Disgraced bishop unwelcome in N.B. town

A Nova Scotia bishop facing child pornography charges is expected to arrive in Rogersville, N.B., on Friday.

Bishop Raymond Lahey, who resigned his post at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish on the weekend before news of the charges broke, plans to stay at the village's monastery.

But the disgraced 69-year-old cleric is an unwanted guest in the community, according to many residents.

"I wish he would go somewhere else," said Mayor Bertrand LeBlanc.

"This is a small community. We take care of our children and we want them to be in security. And this is a scenario you would not want for your children," he said.

LeBlanc said he has heard nothing but complaints from residents about Lahey's visit. It's an affront to the people of the predominantly Catholic community, he said.

The mayor said he hopes if enough residents are upset, then Lahey will be forced to move on.

Resident Arnold Petrie agrees.

"We got to accept him here? No. We don't need that," said Petrie.

"How come they don't take him to a big city where there's a lot of people and a lot of cops? We don't have time for that here," he said.

"We got kids. There's a better place [for]him than here."

Officials at the Cistercian-Trappist Monastery of Our Lady of Calvary declined to comment on Friday, except to say they didn't ask Lahey to stay with them; the request came from the papal office.

On bail

Lahey was released on $9,000 bail Thursday after he turned himself in to Ottawa police.

One of the conditions of his release was that he stay in Rogersville, but he is free to leave the monastery grounds, which are about three kilometres from the village.

Lahey was also ordered to check in with the RCMP twice a week, stay away from children and places they frequent, and not to use the internet.

He is charged with the possession and importation of child pornography.

His next court appearance is Nov. 4 in Ottawa.

A Canada-wide arrest warrant had been issued for Lahey, who brokered a $15-million settlement for victims of sexual abuse by priests of the diocese of Antigonish.

Lahey was returning to Canada on Sept. 15 when he was detained at Ottawa International Airport. Canada Border Services agents checked his laptop and found images "of concern," Ottawa police said in a release.

Lahey was allowed to leave, but his computer and other media devices were seized. Police said a forensic examination revealed thechild pornography.

On Sept. 18, Ottawa police charged Lahey with possession of child pornography and importation of child pornography.

He resigned the next day.

The monastery has prayer services seven times a day. The monks also work on the farm, gardens and orchard.