The Vatican on Friday removed two Maine priests from service due to allegations that they sexually abused minors in the 1970s.

One of the priests, 57-year-old Michael L. Plourde, began his career at a Lewiston church while the other served at a church in Mexico.

In a press release from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, church officials said Plourde has been laicized, or removed from service, for abusing minors from 1976 to 1978.

The first report of abuse of a minor was made to church officials in 1994 and he was removed from ministry that year, according to the release. Plourde had been removed from ministry and sent for counseling in 1989 due to a complaint involving sexual misconduct toward an adult.

After treatment, he was returned to ministry until 1994 when a complaint regarding a minor was received, the press release states.

Other complaints came forward in later years, all referring to incidents that occurred between 1976 and 1978. The diocese notified civil authorities of Plourde’s case and his whereabouts six years ago.

Born in New Brunswick, Plourde was ordained in 1976 and began his assignments at Holy Cross Parish in Lewiston.

Also dismissed by the Vatican was 69-year-old George W. Beaudet, who church officials said began abusing children in 1979.

Beaudet was first accused in the year 2000 and was immediately removed from ministry, according to the press release. Civil officials were also notified at that time.

Church officials said additional complaints were received in 2002 regarding conduct dating back to 1980. Beaudet is now living out of state and notifications have been made to civil and church authorities where he is living.

Beaudet served at several Maine churches, including St. Theresa in Mexico.

In the press release, Bishop Richard Malone again apologized to abuse survivors and all the faithful harmed by the scandal. He continues to encourage anyone who has ever been abused by clergy or other church representative to make a report to the diocese or the police.

In January of last year, Bishop Malone publicly identified Plourde and Beaudet as priests who had been removed from ministry due to allegations of sexual abuse of minors whose cases were awaiting a final disposition from Rome.

Previously, names of those accused were released only after the Holy See had adjudicated each case. According to the bishop, he changed the policy because he was uneasy about how long it was taking for cases to be resolved and the possible risk of re-offense in the cases of those who had not previously been publicly identified.

Since 2002, in an effort to be transparent, all substantive allegations of sexual abuse of minors are publicized and active priests must step down during investigations of those complaints. The removal of any church personnel from ministry due to such complaints is also publicized.

Laicization, or dismissal from the clerical state, means the church no longer considers the individual a priest. Only the Vatican can laicize a priest. Bishops have the power to limit ministry or temporarily remove a priest from ministry.

Though Plourde and Beaudet have had no ministry for several years, laicization means all connection to church authority is severed.