Father Paul Abbass has been placed on leave as executive director for Talbot House - an addiction treatment centre in Frenchvale, Cape Breton, while Nova Scotia Community Services investigates a complaint against him. Abbass has also been placed on leave from his duties as vicar general and with pastoral care by the Diocese of Antigonish. (File photo)

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The executive director of a live-in addictions recovery facility for adult men in Frenchvale, Cape Breton, has been placed on a leave of absence pending a review of a complaint against him.
Father Paul Abbass has served in the position at Talbot House for more than 17 years.
“It is an unfortunate and challenging situation for all involved,” Dr. John Gainer, Talbot House board chair, said in a Feb. 16 press release.
“The health and welfare of the residents is a primary concern for the board. We ask that the privacy of current residents be respected,” he added.
In the release, the Talbot house board said it had been made aware, through the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services, of an “alleged complaint” against Abbass in his role as executive director.
The board said it has initiated a process of investigation and review and in the interim Abbass agreed to take a leave of absence until its completion.
Management and day-to-day operations of Talbot House are being taken care of by two long-time staff members.
Gainer told the Cape Breton Post that the provincial department had started an organizational review of Talbot House in December. The complaint against Abbass came up during that process and it was brought to the board Feb. 2.
Abbass was asked him to take the leave that same day.
Gainer was unavailable for comment to the Casket as of press time.
“I can tell you that Community Services is in the midst of completing an organizational review of the operations of Talbot House. However, because the review is ongoing I cannot discuss details,” Kristen Tynes, Nova Scotia Department of Community Services communications director, said in an email to the Casket.
She said the review “is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.”
There has also been a complaint made with the Cape Breton Regional Police Service about a Talbot House employee.
“We are currently looking further into that information to see if there are any grounds for a criminal investigation,” Desiree Vassallo, Cape Breton Regional Police Service spokesperson, said Feb. 16.
She said there is no timeline for when a decision will be made on whether or not there will be a criminal investigation.
“It is all dependent on the information that [police] need to gather, so I could not speculate on a timeline,” Vassallo said.
She said police received the complaint earlier this week.
Abbass, who serves as Diocese of Antigonish spokesperson and vicar general, has also been placed on leave from those and his parish responsibilities.
“We will fully co-operate with Talbot House and the Department of Community Services in their review of the complaint,” Bishop Brian Dunn said in a press release Feb. 15.
“In doing so, we will act with the welfare of everyone involved in mind. For the complainant, that means being listened to and having their allegations investigated thoroughly.
“For parishioners, that means keeping them informed and providing avenues for discussion and dialogue. For Father Abbass, it means a fair, timely and thorough investigation to find the truth.”
Dunn announced he has appointed Father Angus MacDougall as vicar general on an interim basis, while Father Agit Kerketta will oversee the pastoral care for the Frenchvale, Christmas Island, Iona, Boisdale and Baddeck parishes.
Kerketta is the associate pastor at those parishes.
Dunn acknowledged that any complaint against a priest needs to be taken seriously whether it occurs in a workplace or a pastoral setting.
“It is always difficult to hear about complaints against priests, but we must encourage that complaints be investigated thoroughly and that the truth be determined” he said.