By Associated Press, 08/27/02

| 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.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- A Roman Catholic priest was indicted Tuesday for the alleged sexual assault of a Waltham boy in the 1980s.

The Rev. Robert V. Gale, 61, was arrested in New Hampshire after a Middlesex County grand jury returned indictments on four counts of rape of a child.

Authorities allege that Gale raped the boy in the rectory of St. Jude's Parish in Waltham, where Gale was assigned, between 1980 and 1984. Prosecutors said the rapes occurred when the boy was between the ages of 10 and 14.

Also on Tuesday, the Boston Archdiocese placed two more priests on administrative leave after receiving complaints of sexual abuse of minors. In both cases, the alleged incidents occurred more than 30 years ago.

The Rev. William L. Butler is pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Revere. The Paul J. Bolduc is on health leave from St. Anne's Parish in Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood.

Gale, who now lives in Middleton, N.H., served at St. Jude's until 1987 and was later assigned to The Infant Jesus Parish in Brookline and St. Monica's Parish in South Boston. He is not currently assigned to a parish. He was ordained in 1968.

The investigation began when the victim, now 32, told a friend about the alleged assaults in 1995. The alleged victim contacted law enforcement earlier this year.

Despite the age of the allegations, prosecutors are able to charge Gale because the 15-year statute of limitations stops running when the suspect lives out of state.

After his indictment Tuesday, Gale was arrested on a fugitive from justice charge. He was released on personal recognizance by a New Hampshire bail commissioner on the condition that he appear in Middlesex Superior Court Wednesday, when he is scheduled to be arraigned on the rape charges.

Archdiocese spokeswoman Donna Morrissey would only say that church officials are cooperating with authorities.

Also Tuesday, a non-clergy employee of a Roman Catholic Church was arrested and charged with sexually abusing a child.

Reed Haviland, 50, a property caretaker at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Bridgewater, pleaded innocent at his arraignment in Brockton District Court to 20 counts of having unnatural acts with a child under age 16. He was released on $35,000 cash bail.

Morrissey referred all questions about Haviland to Bridgewater Police.

On the Butler and Bolduc suspensions, Morrissey said the allegations will be investigated by church officials and that they've notified the Attorney General's office.

Both priests are prohibited from performing any public ministry, but will receive a salary and medical benefits, Morrissey said.

Regional bishops and a social workers will be dispatched to St. Mary's and St. Anne's this weekend to inform parishioners of the status of Butler and Bolduc.