CHATHAM, Ont. - Provincial police have charged an 85-year-old Catholic priest with sex-related offences in cases dating back to the 1970s.

Rev. Linus Bastien is charged with two counts of indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency.

The charges date back to 1978 during his time at St. Mary's Parish in Maidstone in the Windsor area.

The alleged victims were both altar boys at the church.

Bastien was arrested on Wednesday and is to appear in a Windsor court on Nov. 1.

The Diocese of London says this is the first they've heard of the allegations and they're in the midst of preparing a statement.