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Reverend Raymond Lahey (left) arrives at a police station in Ottawa Thursday Oct.1, 2009. A former Nova Scotia bishop facing child-pornography charges has turned himself in to Ottawa police.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian WyldAdrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

Raymond Lahey turned himself in to Ottawa Police Thursday to face charges of possession and importation of child-pornography.

The former bishop of Antigonish, N.S., was released later Thursday afternoon on bail and will return to court Nov. 4. Mr. Lahey was returning from Europe on Sept. 15 when border officials selected him for a careful examination of his laptop, according to Ottawa police. It is unclear what prompted the search, but investigators with the Canada Border Services Agency allegedly located pornographic images that raised concerns. They called in the Ottawa Police, which has jurisdiction to pursue such a matter. But the police force felt the images weren't enough to lay charges.

"The images may have looked of young people, but not conclusive enough for our investigators to apply for a warrant to obtain the laptop," said Constable Alain Boucher, a spokesman for the Ottawa Police.

Mr. Boucher said that the laptop was nonetheless seized by CBSA officials. Upon further examination, more disturbing images were found, he said.

"While they were doing their investigation, they located other files that would cause them concerns regarding child pornography They re-contacted our investigators, who also had concerns about those pictures," Constable Boucher said.

Ten days after Mr. Lahey's return, charges of possession and importation of child pornography were laid, and an arrest warrant was issued.

One day after the matter became public, Mr. Lahey flew back to Ottawa where he turned himself in at police headquarters Thursday. Mr. Lahey was driven to the station around 13:30 by his high-profile lawyer, Michael Edelson, who recently successfully defended Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien on charges of influence peddling.

Mr. Lahey did not answer questions from reporters as he entered the building.

Mr. Lahey was informed of the charges against him and met with police investigators. He will be detained until he has a bail hearing.

In a statement Saturday, Mr. Lahey resigned as the bishop for the diocese of Antigonish, N.S., saying that he was doing so for "personal reasons ... after much thought and careful consideration."

"...To so many of you I would want to say a personal word of farewell and thanks. However, I have already left the diocese to take some much-needed time for personal renewal. I simply ask for your prayers, as I assure you of my continued prayers for you all," he wrote.

When Bishop Lahey sent his resignation letter to the Pope, Archbishop of Halifax Antony Mancini said the clergyman would have been specific about why he was stepping down.

"The Pope would have to know what the grave cause is," he said. "And I have to assume that since he responded and accepted Bishop Lahey's resignation that the Pope knew the gravity of the matter."

Rev. Paul Abbass, a spokesman for the Antigonish diocese, called the charges "pretty devastating," especially in light of a recent sex abuse settlement in Antigonish.

In August, the diocese reached a $15-million class-action settlement with known and alleged former child victims of sexual abuse by its priests dating back to 1950. At the time, Bishop Lahey, who was bishop of Antigonish for six years and was not implicated in the allegations, apologized to the victims and noted they were entitled to protection from priests.

"Sexual abuse, indeed any abuse, is wrong. It is a crime and it is a serious sin in the eyes of God. I want to assure you that for some time our diocese, like others throughout Canada, have been taking steps to protect children and youth," Bishop Lahey told a news conference.

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