FORT KENT — Father Robert Vaillancourt will serve as the temporary administrator at St. John Vianney Parish in Fort Kent while the state investigates allegations against the parish’s former priest.

Bishop Richard Malone assigned Vaillancourt to the Aroostook County position on Wednesday, one day after he announced that Father James L. Nadeau had agreed to take a temporary leave of absence.

The Bishop said that Nadeau is being investigated by the Maine Attorney General’s Office. His leave of absence will allow their investigation to proceed unimpeded, Malone said. Authorities are not being specific as to what type of allegations have been made.

“The diocese is cooperating fully with the Attorney General’s office and at their request, I can not discuss the allegations or anything about the investigation. I am hopeful that this process will go smoothly in order to lead an expeditious and just conclusion,” Malone said, in a prepared statement.

Retired members of the clergy in Aroostook County will attend to the needs of the parish during Holy Week (Triduum and Easter). Vaillancourt is expected to begin his duties at the end of next week.

Vaillancourt, 58, was born in Lewiston. He was ordained in 1982. His first assignment took him to St. Andre in Biddeford in the early 1980s.

Nadeau, 51 has served St. John Vianney Parish for the past seven years. Nadeau also served at St. Andre and at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

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