Notorious child abuser in Massachusetts is laicized

Published: 2004-01-22

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (CNS) -- Convicted child molester Richard R. Lavigne has been laicized by papal decree. Bishop Thomas L. Dupre of Springfield announced Jan. 20 that the former priest's change in status took effect last Nov. 20, when Pope John Paul II signed a decree returning him to the lay state. Bishop Dupre said he received notice of the pope's action Jan. 9 in a letter from the Vatican. He said he met with Lavigne Jan. 17 to inform him of the decision. Lavigne's laicization, coupled with new actions recently reported in at least three other dioceses, indicates that the Vatican has begun to reach the decision point on a number of cases submitted by U.S. bishops concerning priests accused of sexual abuse of minors. Lavigne, 62, had been suspended from all ministry since his arrest in 1991 on charges of rape and sexual abuse of children. He was convicted in 1992 and received a suspended sentence conditioned on treatment and 10 years' probation. He has been accused in more than 30 sexual abuse lawsuits against the Springfield Diocese. Seventeen of those were settled in 1994 for $1.4 million. Lavigne is registered with police as a Level 3 (highest-risk) sex offender.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .