By Associated Press, 08/08/02

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A Roman Catholic priest was indicted Thursday for allegedly abusing a 15-year-old boy in the rectory of a Cambridge church in 1987 and 1988.

The Rev. Paul William Hurley, 59, of Sandwich, faces two counts of rape of a child. He is on administrative leave and restricted from practicing any public ministry, the Boston Archdiocese said.

Prosecutors allege that Hurley sexually assaulted the boy in the rectory of Blessed Sacrament in Cambridge. Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley said the priest would give the victim as much as $80 to $100 after sexual activity on several occasions.

"He thought the money was related to how he performed sexually for the priest, as opposed to it was hush money," Coakley said.

The alleged victim, now 29, reported the matter to out-of-state authorities, who contacted Cambridge police in August 2001.

No arraignment date has been set.

Reached at his home, Hurley referred questions to his attorney, James Coviello, who did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment. But Coviello told WHDH-TV that "we expect that the case will be tried by a jury and he will be found not guilty and allowed to resume his pastoral duties."

The archdiocese released a statement saying it was continuing to cooperate with civil authorities in the case.

"The Archdiocese of Boston continues to extend prayers and support to all those who have suffered the effects of sexual abuse," the statement said.