Edmonton Catholic priest removed under allegations of historic sexual abuse of minor

An Edmonton Catholic priest has been removed from public ministry in the region after an allegation of historic sexual abuse of a minor surfaced.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton said in a statement Christmas Eve it removed Rev. Sylvio Lacar after he was identified by the archdiocese of Los Angeles. It says Lacar was the subject of a credible accusation of sexual assault of a minor in the Los Angeles area during the 1980s.

He regularly served at St. Theresa’s Parish in Ma-Me-O Beach and occasionally at St. Theresa’s Parish in Mill Woods. He is retired priest from the diocese of Peterborough.

Lacar has denied the allegations and no criminal prosecution was pursued, however he was named in a group civil settlement, says the archdiocese.

“The Catholic archdiocese of Edmonton takes any allegation of abuse very seriously and acted swiftly upon learning of this allegation against Rev. Lacar by removing him from any public ministry while investigating,” reads the release from spokesman Andrew Ehrkamp.