Grim news from the Archdiocese of Washington, where a deacon has been charged with sex abuse:

Police have charged a Roman Catholic deacon with incest for allegedly abusing an underage female relative in the 1960s and 1970s.

Dan Paul Stallings has served as deacon at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Silver Spring since 1986. Police say the 71-year-old was arrested Tuesday and charged with 10 counts of incest.

He is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center in lieu of $250,000 bond.

Police say the abuse took place outside the church. But investigators say they are concerned that Stallings may have abused other children because of his involvement with a Catholic youth organization.

The Washington Archdiocese issued a statement Wednesday saying it is sending letters to parishioners notifying them of the charges and asking anyone with information to contact detectives.

Deacon Stallings, his alleged victim, and his family will be in my prayers.