MOODUS, CT (WFSB) -
Parishioners at a Moodus church were shocked after learning their St. Bridget Church is the focus of a criminal investigation by Connecticut State Police.
The Norwich Diocese said the pastor has gone on a voluntary leave of absence.
Parishioners said they were upset because until the news broke Wednesday, no one told them what was going on in their church.
While Father Gregoire Fluet, the pastor of St. Bridget Church is gone, state police and the Diocese of Norwich are launching investigations into the parish.
The financial officer for the Diocese is now in charge of the parish finances.
State police said they seized electronic evidence as part of the investigation.
Unnamed sources said it was accusations from somebody close to the church that set the investigation off.
Parishioners said they've been hearing rumblings for weeks, but never an official word as to what was going on.
Sophie Blaschik has been a member of the church for nearly all of her 90 years. She said Fluet was one of the best priests they've had. He's presided there for at least a decade and she was hoping he would stay much longer.
"I would like to see Father Fluet back," she said. "In fact, everybody that I know, everybody who called me would like to see him back here and let him explain it to us."
Father Greg Galvin will take over while Fluet is on leave.
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