Boston priest on leave following sexual misconduct arrest

Boston, Mass., Aug 6, 2013 / 01:07 am

Monsignor Arthur M. Coyle of the Archdiocese of Boston is on "voluntary administrative leave" following his Aug. 4 arrest for allegedly hiring a prostitute.

"Monsignor Arthur M. Coyle has taken a voluntary administrative leave from his assignment, as a result of his arrest on charges related to sexual misconduct involving an adult," the Boston archdiocese stated Aug. 5.

"While on administrative leave, Msgr. Coyle is prohibited from performing any public ministry."

Msgr. Coyle, who is 62 and was ordained in 1977, was allegedly found with a prostitute in his vehicle while parked in a cemetery in Lowell, a city located about 30 miles northwest of Boston.

Msgr. Coyle was arrested around 5:20 p.m. when Lowell police were patrolling a known location for prostitution and drug dealing.

"They witnessed a known prostitute in the passenger side of the defendant's vehicle," Middlesex district attorney spokeswoman Stephanie Guyotte told the Boston Herald.

"The defendant allegedly drove to a remote area in the cemetery. Police followed the vehicle, saw the vehicle come to a stop in a far end of the cemetery."

Msgr. Coyle was released on $500 bail today, and is due back in court on Sept. 16. He pled not guilty to the charge.

He will remain on leave "pending the outcome of the case," the archdiocese's statement said.

"The steps taken today do not represent a determination of Msgr. Coyle's guilt or innocence as it pertains to these charges."

Msgr. Coyle had served as episcopal vicar for the Merrimack region of the archdiocese since 2008, and was named a monsignor in 2012.

On whether Msgr. Coyle has any previous convictions, Harry-Jacques Pierre, a communications specialist representing the Boston archdiocese told CNA that the priest has "no priors of any kind."

The official statement concluded by saying, "the Archdiocese asks for prayers for all impacted by this matter."