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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, July 7, 2008 Monroe priest on leave over allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor By Yoshiaki Nohara Herald Writer MONROE – A priest at St. Mary of the Valley has been placed on administrative leave while investigators look into an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor, the Seattle Archdiocese reported today. The accusation against the Rev. Michael OBrien stems from the late 1960s. OBrien, who has been with the Monroe Catholic church since 1999, was also put on leave in 2004 due to another sexual-abuse allegation involving a minor. He returned to the church after the Archdiocese cleared him of the allegation from 1993. The current investigation will be conducted thoroughly, Archbishop Alex J. Brunett said in a statement. “Based upon the findings, I will either reinstate Father OBrien as pastor or continue his administrative leave pending action by the Vatican,” Brunett said. Archbishop Brunett urged anyone who has knowledge of allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a member of the clergy, an employee or volunteer of the Archdiocese of Seattle to call the Archdiocesan Hotline at 1-800-446-7762.

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