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Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Monroe priest put on leave over 1993 abuse inquiry
MONROE -- A priest at St. Mary's of the Valley in Monroe was put on paid leave by the Seattle Archdiocese earlier this month, in the wake of an 11-year-old inquiry into an allegation of child sexual abuse.
In 1993, a 13-year-old boy said that Father Michael O'Brien had touched him inappropriately during a canoeing trip in Mason County, according to archdiocese spokesman Greg Magnoni. Law enforcement authorities investigated at the time but dropped the case after failing to substantiate the charges, he said.
O'Brien, who denies the accusation, nevertheless was removed from ministry, underwent therapy at the archdiocese's insistence and met with a relapse prevention officer before being returned to his post at St. John's parish north of Vancouver, Wash.
No additional accusations were brought against him, Magnoni said, and in 1999, O'Brien transferred to St. Mary of the Valley. But earlier this year his case was reopened by the archdiocese's case review board, an independent body convened to examine allegations of clerical sexual abuse.
The board is expected to complete its inquiry and make a recommendation about O'Brien's fitness for ministry by late May. Until then, he will be on administrative leave.
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