By Associated Press, 05/24/02

| Complete coverage |  AG'S REPORT Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly released the results of a 16-month investigation into clergy sex abuse in the Boston archdiocese. Download report [PDF, 1.4 MB] (File requires Adobe Acrobat)  TODAY'S GLOBE A new leader reaches out 3 faces in crowd bound in hopeh At BC, students watch with awe O'Malley's homily reveals frank man Near cathedral, voices of protest 'Good priests' moved to tears Text of Archbishop O'Malley's homily Sandwiches, chips were bill of fare An angry protest, and prayers  GRAPHICS The moment of installation Viewer's guide Ceremony TV coverage  Processional O'Malley's vestments O'Malley's coat of arms Cathedral of the Holy Cross  REALVIDEO | NECN.com | Help with video | O'Malley to be installed today Great expectations of O'Malley Video clips require RealPlayer and Windows 98 or higher.  INTERACTIVE FEATURE An interactive timeline of the developing church crisis, featuring photos and audio.   View timeline  IN-DEPTH Boston's new archbishop Bishop Sean Patrick O'Malley has been chosen to succeed Cardinal Law as leader of the archdiocese. Reaction to O'Malley appointment Accused priests are vindicated Three priests have been exonerated after being suspended from their posts over abuse allegations.  CARDINAL BERNARD LAW Coverage of his resignation Career timeline: Priest to cardinal Changing statements on abuse Coverage of his tenure in Boston Photos: Law through the years Boston.com readers' comments  CONTACT SPOTLIGHT If you have information on child abuse by priests, call (617) 929-3208 Or leave a confidential message at this number (617) 929-7483 The Spotlight Team e-mail address is spotlight@globe.com.

BOSTON -- The Archdiocese of Boston placed a West Bridgewater priest on administrative leave on Friday after church officials became aware of an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor.

The Rev. Edward C. McDonagh, pastor of St. Ann Parish, was placed on leave pending an investigation.

"Following our policy it was determined that the allegations had enough substance to warrant further investigation by the Archdiocese of Boston regarding a past incident," spokeswoman Donna Morrissey said.

McDonagh has been a priest since 1962, but Morrissey did not know how long he has been at St. Ann. The archdiocese did not release details about the allegation, including when or where it allegedly occurred or the gender of the alleged victim.

The allegation was reported only recently, Morrissey said.

Morrissey said the archdiocese regretted that parishioners couldn't be told first.

"We don't want the perception we were hiding anything or withholding information," she said. "We do regret that we didn't have the ability to notify the parish tonight."

Cardinal Bernard Law has publicly stated several times that all priests against whom there is a credible allegation of sexual misconduct will be suspended.

"This is not an allegation we were aware of in the past," she said.

The allegation will be forwarded to law enforcement officials, Morrissey said.

The parish will be provided with counseling.

The Rev. Francis Cloherty, regional vicar, will attend weekend Masses to speak to parishioners, and a Catholic Charities social worker will be available.

A message left on McDonagh's answering machine at the St. Ann rectory Friday evening was not immediately returned.