The Catholic Church placed a priest in northern Idaho on administrative leave after an allegation of sexual misconduct with a male under 18 dating back to 1981 in Idaho Falls. The Idaho Statesman reports the Rev. William R. Gould was placed on leave on May 4.
Bishop Michael Driscoll made the announcement recently at St. George's Catholic Church in Post Falls, which Gould has led.
Gould was ordained in 1965.
Administrative leave means he can't function publicly as a Catholic priest, can't wear a priest collar and is forbidden from publicly celebrating mass.
The bishop says he is following procedures for handling the allegations laid out by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
A phone call to Diocese of Boise spokesman Michael Brown wasn't returned.
SIC: AP