PORTLAND – A lawsuit filed against Maine’s Roman Catholic diocese by a Boothbay Harbor woman whose son allegedly was abused by a priest more than a quarter-century ago was settled out of court Wednesday.

The case brought by Marie Tupper, former housekeeper for the Rev. Thomas Lee at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, is believed to be the first successful civil molestation suit by a parent against Catholic officials in Maine.

After serving 15 years at the Boothbay Harbor parish, Lee served for 14 years as pastor of St. Philip Church in Lyman. He was suspended in September 2003, resigned from the ministry six months later after an investigation by the church into abuse allegations, and is believed to be living in Portland.

Neither side would disclose the amount of the settlement, but the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said Lee was expected to pay a portion of it.

“This settlement is a significant step forward for families of victims,” said Tupper’s attorney, Mark Randall of Portland. “However, no amount of money can compensate for the pain and suffering that this family has endured.”

Tupper alleged that Lee abused her son several times in the priest’s private office at the Boothbay Harbor rectory between 1977 and 1979 and that he abused dozens of other children that he took to his sister’s cottage on Sebago Lake.

Because the incidents in question took place more than 20 years ago, Lee is not subject to criminal charges. The statute of limitations also barred a civil complaint by the victim, prompting the decision by his mother to file suit, according to Paul Kendrick, a spokesman for the family.

Tupper said in a statement that she filed the lawsuit “after my requests for Bishop Joseph Gerry and Bishop Richard Malone to tell the truth to the public about my son’s abuser were repeatedly ignored. I want other victims to know the truth.”

Diocesan spokesman Sue Bernard said the church believed that a settlement was the preferred option, “certainly in terms of what it would have cost and the hardship it would have caused between the church and the victim community.”

David Clohessy of St. Louis, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, called on Malone to visit each parish where Lee worked and “urge victims and witnesses to come forward, get help and contact police.”

Bernard said the church attempts to assist survivors and has mechanisms in place that include paying for counseling for victims and their families.