Local
Hudson vicar placed on leave

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Posted: 12/1/2006

BRIGHTON -- The Archdiocese of Boston announced Nov. 27 that Father Steven Poitras has been placed on administrative leave after it received an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. The abuse is alleged to have occurred in 1994.

Father Poitras was currently serving as parochial vicar at St. Michael Parish in Hudson. Ordained in 1994, his first assignment was at St. Michael’s in North Andover, but according to archdiocesan spokesperson Kelly Lynch, “the alleged incident did not occur at the parish to which Father Steven Poitras was assigned in 1994.”

The archdiocese notified the attorney general and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office “upon receipt of this complaint,” the archdiocese said in a statement.

“The decision to place Father Poitras on administrative leave does not represent a determination of his guilt or innocence as it pertains to this allegation,” the statement continued.

Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley reiterated his promise to do everything possible to protect children and to ensure that those who are suffering as a result of clergy sexual abuse have the continued pastoral and spiritual support of the archdiocese. The cardinal also stated that he will continue to work to resolve these cases in a manner that is fair to all parties.