PORTLAND (AP) – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is releasing more details of accusations against a priest accused of abusing children.
Church officials say 14 victims from the Boothbay Harbor area were named in nine direct and two secondhand reports about the Rev. Thomas Lee, who was removed from the ministry five years ago. All the incidents happened in the 1980s while Lee was serving a parish in Boothbay Harbor.
Bishop Richard Malone has been criticized for not meeting with Marie Tupper, the mother of one of the vicitims. She had a personal meeting with Malone’s predecessor but Malone has not met with her.
A church tribunal consisting of three priests determined last month that accusations against Lee were not proven, but Malone has appealed that decision to the Vatican.
In a statement Monday night, the diocese said it was releasing the additional information “to give the community perspective on the case” and to support victims who say they have been criticized by their community for coming forward.
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