Police have charged a local priest with four counts of sexual assault and indecent assault for crimes that occurred between 1982 and 1988.
The victim was a resident student at the St. Boniface Minor Seminary at the time of the offences.
Roland Lanoie, 70, was arrested Oct. 3.
Police say he was working as an ordained priest working holding various positions within the Archdiocese of St. Boniface at the time of the offences.
The Archdiocese released a statement from spokesman Richard Frechette Monday, indicating that Lanoie was removed from his ministerial duties in early 2017 following an internal investigation.
“Each time the heinous crime of sexual abuse is reported, victims and their families are wounded again, the vast majority of faithful priests bow their heads in shame,” said the statement.
Sincere Catholics, Christians and people of good will experience shock, sorrow, anger and righteous indignation.”
According to the statement, Lanoie was permanently suspended from the ministry in December 2017 after the issue was presented to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
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