By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — In another dark day for the members of St. Leo the Great parish, the Diocese of Providence announced Monday that the Rev. Kevin R. Fisette has resigned as the church's pastor amid allegations that he sexually abused a minor over 20 years ago.

In accordance with The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and diocesan policy, Father Fisette  has been placed on administrative leave as a result of a “credible allegation,” according to the statement from the diocese.  As such, his faculties, or permission to serve as a priest, have been suspended in accordance with the charter.
Father Fisette had been pastor of St. Leo the Great since 2004. Parishioners of St. Leo's were notified of the situation at Sunday's Masses, the diocese added in a press release.
According to the diocese, as well as the Rhode Island State Police and the Attorney General's Office, no criminal charges will be filed against Father Fisette at this time. Diocese officials said that upon receiving an allegation of sexual abuse in March, the diocese promptly reported the information to law enforcement authorities who investigated the matter. Church officials were informed last week through the State Police that criminal charges would not be pursued at this time, according to the statement.
According to State Police Detective Capt. David Neill, the Diocese of Providence forwarded the complaint to law enforcement authorities in April. He said the case was thoroughly investigated and the findings were turned over to the office of Attorney General Patrick Lynch.
The Attorney General's Office dismissed the case, primarily based on the statute of limitations, he said.  However, Neill also said that the State Police investigation revealed the complainant's claims to be credible. The male victim was reportedly 14 years old at the time of the alleged misconduct, Neill said.
Neill declined to provide any further details surrounding the complaint, including how the victim was known to Father Fisette.
Michael Healey, spokesman for Attorney General Patrick Lynch's Office, said that the allegations dated back over 20 years, to the early 1980s. He said that following the State Police investigation, the Attorney General's Office reviewed the case in the context of the statute as it existed at that time. “In the context of the then-existing law, it was not considered to be a viable criminal case,” said Healey. He added that the case againt Father Fisette  is considered to be dismissed, unless some additional credible information comes to light.
Healey explained that during the time of the victim's alleged complaint, the General Assembly had not yet passed a law making child molestation a crime. The only law relating to a sexual crime at that time was for first degree forcible rape, and the law pertained specifically to a crime between a man and a woman, said Healey.
Michael Guilfoyle, director of communications for the diocese, said that the Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of  Providence, will be appointing a priest to be an administrator of St. Leo the Great. He said an announcement is expected by the end of the week. Guilfoyle explained that an “administrator”  refers to a priest who will be given a temporary assignment to the parish.
Guilfoyle also said that the Bishop plans on celebrating Mass with the St. Leo's parish in the near future in an effort to provide members with spiritual and pastoral support. There will be no disruption in the regular Mass schedule for St. Leo's, he added.
Guilfoyle also said that Father Fisette's resignation does not affect any of the plans that were recently reported to move the pre-school of the Capt. Hunt School in Central Falls to the vacant St. Leo's school building for the start of the new year. It has been reported that structural defects were found at the Central Falls school, necessitating the move of about 225 children in pre-school and kindergarten.
Bishop Tobin stated, “I am saddened by this unfortunate news, however, the Diocese of Providence takes seriously this allegation.” He added, “I offer my prayers and support for the individual who came forward with this allegation and his family during this time, Father Kevin Fisette and his family as well as the faithful of St. Leo the Great.”
The Rev. Kevin Fisette was ordained to the priesthood on Nov. 21, 1981 and has served in the following assignments: Rhode Island Hospital chaplain 1981-1982; St. Mary, Cranston, 1982-1985; St. Catherine, Warwick; 1985-1990; St. James, West Warwick and Bishop Hendricken High School 1990-1993; Pawtuxet Valley CYO spiritual director 1990-1993; Saints Peter and Paul, West Warwick, 1993; and Holy Name of Jesus, Providence, 1997-2004.
Father Fisette was assigned to St. Leo the Great in 2004, where he had instituted a Tridentine Mass once a month and had stepped up the involvement in parish stewardship programs. As pastor, he was also the head of St. Leo the Great School, which  closed last June due to declining enrollment and rising costs.
According to diocesan officials, the Diocese of Providence is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation and remains committed to addressing all credible allegations of abuse. In its statement, the diocese urges anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse or with credible knowledge of such abuse by any member of the church to report the information to local law enforcement or the Diocesan Office of Education and Compliance at (401) 941-0760.