Diocese of Fredericton launches investigation after priest pleads guilty to solicitation of prostitution.The diocese of Fredericton's sexual-offences committee will conduct its own investigation after Canon Ed Coleman, rector of the parish of Hampton, was convicted by a court in Sussex, N.B., of soliciting a young male for prostitution. "I am deeply saddened and troubled by the events that led to the charges and my prayers remain with the victim as well as Mr. Coleman and his family," diocesan bishop A bishop in charge of a diocese. These are to be distinguished from suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, coadjutor bishops, Auxiliary Bishops, or metropolitans or primates. Claude Miller said in a statement after the priest's conviction Dec. 3. "I commend Mr. Coleman for taking responsibility for his actions and assure all involved that the church will continue to support them in any way possible." Mr. Coleman, 48, pleaded guilty after entering into a plea bargain plea bargain n. in criminal procedure, a negotiation between the defendant and his attorney on one side and the prosecutor on the other, in which the defendant agrees to plead "guilty" or "no contest" to some crimes, in return for reduction of the severity of the . He was granted a conditional discharge A conditional discharge is a sentence passed by a court whereby the defendant is not punished provided he complies with certain conditions. An absolute discharge is unconditional: in some jurisdictions, where no conditions are imposed at all, in others where the conditions by the court. When charges were laid last July, Bishop Miller put Mr. Coleman on medical leave of absence and sent him to the Southdown Institute in Aurora, Ont., which offers treatment and rehabilitation for religious professionals. He remains on indefinite leave and has not performed parish or diocesan duties since he was charged July 29. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Royal Canadian Mounted Police, constabulary organized (1873) as the Northwest Mounted Police to bring law and order to the Canadian west. In 1920 the name was changed to the present title. identified Mr. Coleman's victim as a young male. Mr. Coleman had earlier pleaded not guilty to charges that he tried to pay a minor for sex outside a church in Midland, N.B., on July 1, 2004. A police investigation began after neighbours of the Midland Baptist Church called the RCMP to report a disturbance in the church's parking lot. Rev. Wally Collett, a retired priest, has been assigned to serve as interim priest in charge A priest in charge is a priest in charge of a parish who does not receive the temporalities of the parish. That is, he or she is not legally responsible for the churches and glebe, simply holds a licence rather than freehold and is not appointed by advowson. of the parish of Hampton. Ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. in 1984, Mr. Coleman served in his native Newfoundland until coming to the Anglican diocese of Fredericton in 1992. He was appointed a canon in 2003. With files from Wilfred Langmaid |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion