Catholic priest Father Ronald Lger removed from duties after sex assault plea

A former Winnipeg priest has been removed from his duties in the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Boniface after he pleaded guilty to sex assault earlier this week.

RonaldLger, the formerhead of Holy Family Parish and founder of Teen StopJeunesse,pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assaultand one count of sexual interference on July 13.

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The Archdiocese of St.Bonifacestripped RonaldLgerof his duties on Thursday.

"You are definitively no longer authorized to exercise a public ministry in ourArchdiocese of St.Boniface," AlbertLeGatt, the Archbishop of St.Boniface,said in a news release.

The charges brought against the 77-year-old relate back to a series of incidents thatoccurred between 1984 and2004. The interference charge was levelled against Lger because one of the victims was under the age of 16.

Lger is expected to besentenced earlynext week. Hisname will beadded to the national sex offender registry.

Lger was arrested earlier in 2014 after three males agenine to 18 came forward. Two said they were attacked in the 1980s, while the third occurred between 2002 and 2004.

He remains free on bail.

The Archdiocese is holding a meetingMonday evening at the Holy Family Parishto answer questions about the case.