Updated 1:51 p. m. Monday Sept 10 The Diocese of Massachusetts has released a statement, which includes the following:
The diocese is cooperating fully with the investigation and is making arrangements for pastoral care for the congregations where Paul LaCharite had affiliations. The Episcopal Church’s canonical disciplinary process was initiated upon receipt of the news from the District Attorney’s Office.
Updated 9:51 PM Saturday
An Episcopal priest in Somerville was arrested this afternoon on charges of repeated indecent assault of one of his child parishioners over a 10-year period, the Middlesex District Attorney’s office said.
Reverend Paul A. LaCharite, 65, of Boston was arrested on one count of assault with intent to rape a child and three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child, said the district attorney’s office.
“We allege that this defendant, holding a trusted position within the Episcopal Church, indecently assaulted and touched the victim over several years, only ending his 10-year-long predatory abuse of the victim when the defendant left the church,” Middlesex District Attorney Gerald T. Leone, Jr. said in a statement.
Read the Boston Globe’s report here.
In his retirement, LaCharite was serving as priest associate of Old North Church in Boston.
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Updated 9/08/2012
A man who answered a phone number for LaCharite and identified himself as Bruce Shaw said he does not expect LaCharite to be released from police custody until Monday. He said the abuse allegations are false. “I don’t believe a word of it,” Shaw said. Shaw said he has been LaCharite’s partner for 31 years and they have been married for six.
He said LaCharite was nothing but kind to the boy, who Shaw said came from a troubled family. “Paul was incredibly kind to this problematic family. And I do not believe for one moment that he had sexual interest in this young man,” Shaw said. I know pretty much everything about him.”
Authorities said the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts is cooperating with the investigation.