PORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s Roman Catholic diocese is releasing more details of accusations against a priest accused of abusing children during the 1980s.
Church officials say 14 victims from the Boothbay Harbor area were named in nine direct and two secondhand reports about the Rev. Thomas Lee, who was removed from ministry five years ago. At the time of the alleged abuse, Lee was serving a parish in Boothbay Harbor.
Bishop Richard Malone has been criticized for not meeting with Marie Tupper, the mother of one of the victims. She had a personal meeting with Malone’s predecessor but Malone has not met with her.
A church tribunal consisting of three priests determined last month that accusations against Lee were not proven, but Malone has appealed that decision to the Vatican.