Bishop says he believes abuse allegations

The archbishop of Moncton has told parishioners at Ste Therese d'Avila, in the small village of Cap Pel,that he believes the men who have come forward alleging that a deceased priest abused them.

Archbishop Andr Richard spoke during Sundaymass. He went on to praise the men for speaking out about the abuse, which they say happened when Father Camille Lger was a priest in the village, from 1957 to 1980.

Lger died in 1990 and was never charged his accusers came forward after his death.

Archbishop Richard went further, apologizing for what happened to the men, personally and on behalf of the church.

He asked for forgiveness from all the victims and promised to work with the community to heal the rift that has occurred.

The allegations have arisen now because the village's arena, Pre-Camille-Lger Arna, is named after Lger. Several people in Cap-Pelallege that he abused children in the community.

Until last week, he was widely considered a pillar of the community, who was involved with youth through hockey and the Boy Scouts.

Archbishop Andr Richard, a native New Brunswicker,has been archbishop of Moncton since 2002.

Community divided

The issue of changing the name of Arna Pre-Camille-Lger to Arna de Cap-Pelleft the community divided last week.

Coun. Norbet Gaudet, who says he was one of Lgers victims, is one of the people calling for the name change.

Gaudet claims he was 13 years old when Lger started abusing him.

Gaudet claims hes met dozens of men over the years who say they were also assaulted by the former priest of the Ste Therese d'Avila Roman Catholic parish.

The reaction of area residentson Thursday was mixed.

A plebiscite on whether to changethe arena's namewill be heldduring theMay 14 municipal election. It must receive a vote of 60% or more to pass.