Priest returns to parish following investigation

KENNEBUNK – A Catholic priest has returned to his parish after an investigation failed to substantiate a complaint of improper contact with a minor six years ago.

The Rev. Laurent Laplante, 74, stepped down as pastor of St. Martha’s Parish in early December after a high school girl reported that Laplante touched her pants on the knee and inner thigh when she was 9 years old.

Laplante denied any wrongdoing, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland launched an investigation.

In a letter to parishioners, Bishop Richard Malone said Laplante returned to his pastor duties over the weekend. The weight of the evidence was not sufficient to determine if an incident did or did not happen, Malone said.

Information was also made available in every parish where Laplante worked in his 48 years in the ministry, but no other complaints were received, Malone said.

Laplante has served in parishes in Northeast Harbor, Brunswick, Mexico, Hampden, Old Orchard Beach, Limerick, Biddeford and Kennebunk.

Church officials said Laplante and the girl’s family were cooperative during the investigation. The diocese offered the girl counseling and later turned over its final report to police.

In his letter, Malone said the investigation into the complaint was necessary to protect the credibility of the church and preserve the reputation of its priests.

“I know some of you felt that I, as your bishop, acted too quickly to remove (Laplante) from ministry,” Malone wrote. “But that was important in order to conduct the investigation effectively – to allow potential witnesses the greatest freedom to cooperate and provide essential information.”