Pope Benedict XVI has laicized three men who
formerly were priests assigned to the Archdiocese of Boston, each of
whom faced accusations they sexually abused minors or tried to solicit
teens for sex.
In a statement Friday, the Archdiocese of Boston identified the men as
Frederick J. Cartier, Louis J. Govoni, and Frederick Guthrie.
The archdiocese said in the statement that the men had asked to "be
removed from the clerical state. ...They may no longer function in any
capacity as priests, with the exception of offering absolution to the
dying.''
Cartier, who
was ordained in 1963, was granted a leave of absence in 1979, and has
not been connected to the archdiocese for more than 20 years, the
statement said.
According to bishopaccountability.org, Cartier was accused in 2002 of molesting a 13-year-old while he was serving at a Woburn parish in the 1970s.
Govoni, who was ordained in 1972, has not been associated with the archdiocese since 1978, the church said.
Govoni was accused in the 1970s of sexually molesting boys at
Archbishop Williams High School. He was not publicly linked to the
allegations until 2003 when his personnel record was made public.
In 2003, Govoni was working as a substitute teacher in Duxbury and
was fired after the allegations became public, according to published
reports.
Guthrie,
who was ordained in 1962, left the Boston Archdiocese in 2001.
He later
pleaded guilty in New Hampshire to charges that he used a computer to
solicit a minor for sex in the early 2000s.