The bishop is not required to appear unless he decides to plead guilty. Though he has not made a plea, the Crown is proceeding as if there is a not guilty plea.

A Canada Border Services Agent stopped Lahey Sept. 15 on his return to Canada and seized his computer and other electronic devices after an initial inspection. Lahey resigned from his Antigonish See the day after charges were laid Sept. 25.

Nova Scotia RCMP executed search warrants on Lahey's residences and offices in Antigonish and Sydney in October, seizing electronic equipment. But Corporal M.J. DeLuco said they could not speculate when the investigation would be complete.

Lahey has been staying at a priests’ residence in Ottawa since Oct. 9, when he turned in his passport to authorities. He had been released on bail of $9,000, ordered to stay away from the Internet, computers or cell phones and from children 18 and under.