This section provides a list of Catholic Church clergy in the state of Massachusetts who have been publicly accused of adult and/or child sexual abuse.
Some of these cases were brought to light after The Boston Globe published a series of articles in early 2002 that exposed widespread sexual abuse by clergy affiliated with the Archdiocese of Boston. As a result of the Globe’s efforts, many people who were abused as children by local Catholic clergy were inspired to come forward. The Church has agreed to several multi-million-dollar settlements, with still more pending. It is likely that there are other victims across Massachusetts and other parts of the U.S. who have yet to be heard.
Various Roman Catholic dioceses in Massachusetts have been accused of having harbored individuals who misused their positions of authority to commit sexual assault and related crimes. These organizations include the Diocese of Fall River, the Diocese of Springfield, and the Diocese of Worcester.
Massachusetts Law on Sexual Abuse Cases
Under Massachusetts law, the statute of limitations for civil cases involving sexual assult in which the victim was under eighteen years of age is, generally, 35 years after the event occurred. However, the time limit does not commence until the victim has turned 18. If the victim discovers “an emotional or psychological injury” caused by the abuse after the normal statute of limitations expires, then the actionable period is seven years after this discovery is made.
The same statute of limitations applies to individuals who are accused of “negligent supervision or conduct” that contributed to another person’s sexual abuse of a minor.
For criminal cases involving sexual abuse of minors, the statute of limitations is 27 years from the time the incident was reported to law enforcement, or from the date the victim reached the age of 16.
How Can You Seek Help for a Clergy Abuse Case?
If you or someone close to you was sexually abused by a member of the Catholic clergy, please contact Saunders & Walker, P.A. You may qualify for substantial financial compensation, even if the event(s) in question occurred long ago. You can call us for a free consultation at (727) 579-4500.
Note on the List of Accused Priests and Other Clergy
The names on this list were taken from the Massachusetts page of bishop-accountability.org, a site that maintains a nationwide database of allegations of sexual abuse involving Catholic clergy. Feel free to visit their website for more information on this list of accused priests and the sexual abuse claims associated with them.
Individuals listed below should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Some of these individuals have been publicly named by a diocese, religious order, or another Catholic organization that has released a list of clergy who have been the subject of credible accusations. Others have been named in civil suits that resulted in out-of-court settlements. Nonetheless, accusations and settlements should not be considered proof of guilt.
The following is a list of priests accused of abuse in Massachusetts. This list includes a number of non-priests who were affiliated with a Massachusetts diocese.
- Fr. John H. Acres
- Fr. William Edward F. Allen
- Fr. Manuel Andrade, Jr.
- Fr. Joseph Angeli
- Fr. Armando Andrew Annunziato
- Br. Antonio F. Antonucci
- Fr. Paul J. Archambault
- Fr. Brion T. Ares
- Fr. John T. Atwater
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- Fr. Charles E. Aubut
- Fr. Henry Auger
- Fr. Edward George Authier
- Fr. Jose Maria B. Avila
- Fr. Leonard Bacigalupo
- Fr. John J. Bagley
- Fr. Eugene Bailot
- Fr. William F. Baker
- Fr. Gary E. Balcom
- Fr. Henry S. Banach
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- Fr. H. Stanley Barney
- Fr. Frederick L. Barr
- Fr. Robert E. Barrett
- Fr. Gerard D. Barry
- Fr. Richard J. Barry
- Fr. Lee F. Bartlett
- Fr. Settimo Basso
- Fr. Sydney H. Bayers
- Fr. Robert P. Beale
- Br. Robert Beaulac
- Fr. Gerald Beauregard
- Fr. Joseph Rosario G. Beauregard
- Fr. Leon F. Beauvais
- Fr. Andre M. Bernard
- Fr. Adrien E. Bernier
- Fr. George A. Berthiaume
- Fr. George C. Berthold
- Fr. Albert Berube
- Fr. Joseph E. Birmingham
- Fr. Albert Rene Blanchard
- Fr. David L. Blizard
- Fr. John Bocciarelli
- Fr. William Boffa
- Fr. Paul J. Bolduc
- Fr. John J. Bonzagni
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- Fr. Barry F. Bossa
- Fr. Clarence R. Boucher
- Fr. Paul T. Boudreau
- Fr. Raymond A. Boulanger
- Br. Xavier Leonard Boulanger
- Fr. Normand J. Boulet
- Fr. Real Bourque
- Fr. Donald J. Bowen
- Fr. James E. Braley
- Fr. Gerard L. Branconnier
- Fr. Philip Calixtus Breton
- Fr. Andrew Brizzolara
- Brother Albert
- Brother John
- Brother Regis
- Fr. Anthony L. Buchette
- Fr. James F. Buckley
- Fr. Lawrence Buckley
- Fr. Myron F. Bullock
- Fr. Richard A. Buntel
- Br. Robert Burgess
- Fr. Richard J. Butler
- Fr. William L. Butler
- Fr. Edward J. Byington
- Fr. Joseph F. Byrne
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- Fr. George J. Callaghan
- Fr. Alan E. Caparella
- Fr. Richard J. Carelli
- Fr. Michael John Carew
- Fr. Michael L. Carney
- Seminarian George R. Carrier
- Fr. John P. Carroll
- Fr. Frederick J. Cartier, Jr.
- Fr. Walter E. Casey
- Fr. Charles Cavanagh
- Fr. Guido Caverzan
- Fr. John C. Chaisson
- Fr. Edmund P. Charest
- Fr. Joseph Chu Cong
- Fr. James A. Clark
- Fr. Joseph K. Coleman
- Fr. Jeremiah J. Collins
- Fr. John Kevin Connell
- Fr. James E. Connelly
- Fr. Paul G. Connolly
- Fr. Denis A. Conte
- Fr. Joseph A. Coonan
- Seminarian Robert Cornigans
- Fr. John M. Cotter
- Fr. Richard T. Coughlin
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- Fr. Gerard E. Creighton
- Fr. Edmund W. Croke
- Fr. John P. Cronin
- Deacon Joseph I. Crowley, Jr.
- Fr. William J. Cullen
- Br. Eugenio Cumerlato
- Fr. William J. Cummings
- Fr. John Curley
- Fr. Thomas M. Curran
- Br. Francis E. Dailey
- Fr. Robert F. Daly
- Agnes Daniels
- Fr. Stephen F. Dawber
- Br. Fidelis DeBerardinis
- Fr. Richard Degagne
- Seminarian Alexander Delgado
- Fr. Arthur T. DeMello
- Fr. Donald A. Desilets
- Fr. Paul M. Desilets
- Fr. Gerard V. Dever
- Fr. Arthur T. Devlin
- Fr. Chester J. Devlin
- Fr. Michael H. Devlin
- Fr. Charles F. Dewey
- Fr. John J. Dewire
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- Fr. Frederick George Dion
- Fr. Bernard L. Doheny
- Deacon Mark C. Doherty
- Fr. Paul J. Doherty
- Fr. John Paul Donahue
- Fr. Richard T. Donahue
- Fr. Lowe B. Dongor
- Br. George Donnelly
- Fr. Thomas D. Donnelly
- Fr. John Francis Dority
- Fr. Ronald Dorsey
- Fr. Arthur C. dos Reis
- Fr. Jude Dowling
- Fr. Eugene Adalbert Dranka
- Fr. Donald V. Dube
- Fr. William J. Duffy
- Fr. W. Francois Dufresne
- Fr. John A. Dunn
- Bishop Thomas Ludger Dupre
- Fr. J. Arthur G. Dupuis
- Fr. Leo V. Dwyer
- Fr. Hugo Dylla
- Fr. John F. Egan
- Deacon William R. Emerson
- Fr. James W. Fahey
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- Fr. Frank E. Fairbairn
- Fr. David M. Farland
- Br. Nolan Farrell
- Fr. Robert D. Fay
- Fr. Stephen A. Fernandes
- Fr. Robert C. Fichtner
- Fr. Paul J. Finegan
- Fr. Joseph E. Flood
- Fr. John H. Flynn, Jr.
- Fr. James D. Foley
- Fr. James J. Foley
- Fr. Joseph Clarence W. Forand
- Fr. Thomas P. Forry
- Fr. Michael Smith Foster
- Br. John Fowler
- Fr. Joseph P. Fox
- Fr. Bento R. Fraga
- Fr. Joseph P. Fratic
- Fr. Albert A. Fredette
- Fr. Joseph Albert Fredette
- Fr. Ross S. Frey
- Fr. Peter J. Frost
- Fr. Joseph Fugolo
- Fr. Stephen R. Furtado
- Fr. Joseph A. Fusoni
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- Fr. Jean-Paul Gagnon
- Fr. Robert V. Gale
- Fr. Brian Gallagher
- Fr. John J. Gallagher
- Fr. Oscar A. Gatineau
- Fr. Rene Gaudin
- Fr. James E. Gaudreau
- Br. Lawrence Gauthier
- Fr. John J. Geoghan
- Br. Kenneth Ghastin
- Fr. Daniel L. Gill
- Fr. Jerome F. Gillespie
- Fr. Thomas M. Gillespie
- Fr. James Randal Gillette
- Seminarian Joseph Gilpin
- Deacon Ricardo Gonzalez
- Fr. Peter G. Gori
- Fr. Louis J. Govoni
- Fr. Daniel M. Graham
- Fr. Alfred C. Graves
- Fr. Angelo Michael Guarin
- Fr. John E. Guiney
- Fr. James J. Haddad
- Fr. Arthur J. Hagan
- Fr. Timothy Joseph Hallahan
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- Fr. John R. Hanlon
- Bishop Timothy J. Harrington
- Br. Thomas Harrison
- Fr. Earl Albert Victor Hebert
- Br. William A. Hennessy
- Fr. Hernando Herrera
- Fr. Mark R. Hession
- Fr. Gerald J. Hickey
- Fr. Phillip J. Higgins
- Seminarian Paul Hightower
- Br. Thomas F. Holihan
- Fr. David A. Holley
- Br. Edward Anthony Holmes
- Br. James Barron Holsenbach
- Fr. Ernest Karl Huller
- Fr. Paul William Hurley
- Fr. James Hutchinson
- Fr. Raymond L. Hyder
- Fr. Kelvin E Iguabita-Rodriguez
- Fr. Peter J. Inzerillo
- Fr. Norman R. Jalbert
- Fr. Alphonse B. Jansonis
- Fr. Joseph Roy Jenness
- Fr. Harold Joseph Johnson
- Fr. Richard G. Johnson
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- Fr. Placid Kaczorek
- Fr. Peter S. Kanchong
- Fr. Charles R. Kane
- Fr. Thomas A. Kane
- Fr. Maurice P. Karam
- Fr. Thaddeus J. Kardas
- Br. Dominic Karow
- Fr. Robert S. Kaszynski
- Fr. John F. Keane
- Fr. Dennis A. Keefe
- Fr. Bernard J. Keenan
- Fr. Donald J. Keenan
- Fr. Cornelius J. Keliher
- Fr. Arnold E. Kelley
- Fr. Edward T. Kelley
- Fr. Robert E. Kelley
- Fr. Vernon Kelly
- Fr. John Earl Kelty
- Fr. Edward Michael Kennedy
- Fr. Joseph W. Kenney
- Fr. Edward M. Keohan
- Br. Albert F. Kerressey
- Fr. Robert W. Kirchmeyer
- Fr. Richard L. Kirouac
- Fr. John R. Klekotka
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- Fr. Robert J. Knapp
- Fr. John Anthony Koonz
- Fr. Michael J. Kossak
- Fr. Andrzej Jacek Kozanko
- Fr. Jeffrey L’Arche
- Br. Leo R. Labbe
- Fr. Daniel W. Lacroix
- Fr. David J. Landry
- Fr. Leo P. Landry
- Fr. Bernard J. Lane
- Fr. James H. Lane
- Fr. John J. Lane
- Br. Louis Laperle
- Fr. Joseph R. Laughlin
- Fr. Anthony J. Laurano
- Fr. Francis Patrick Lavelle
- Fr. Richard Roger Lavigne
- Fr. Victor C. LaVoie
- Fr. Timothy J. Leary
- Fr. Maurice T. Lebel
- Fr. Kenneth A. LeBlanc
- Fr. Edward P. Lettic
- Fr. Charles M. Loeffler
- Fr. Jordan Loiselle
- Fr. Samuel J. Lombard
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- Fr. John P. Lyons
- Fr. James L. MacGuinness
- Fr. Joseph D. Maguire
- Fr. Thomas H. Maguire
- Fr. Paul J. Mahan
- Fr. Thomas E. Mahoney
- Fr. Ronald Raoul Malboeuf
- Fr. William F. Maloney
- Fr. Paul Francis Manning
- Br. William Marinan
- Fr. Jon C. Martin
- Br. Joseph M. Martin
- Deacon James A. Martone
- Fr. Richard O. Matte
- Br. Julius Martin Mattingly
- Fr. Benedict Mawn
- Fr. John Kevin McAndrews
- Mary McAvoy
- Fr. George V. McCabe
- Fr. Paul R. McCarthy
- Fr. Raymond W. McCarthy
- Fr. Thomas James McCarthy
- Fr. James T. McDonald
- Fr. Paul E. McDonald
- Fr. Charles R. McGahey
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- Fr. Donald J. McGurrin
- Fr. Joseph E. McInnis
- Fr. James Daniel McKenna
- Fr. James T. McKeon
- Fr. Edward J. McLaughlin
- Fr. John E. McLaughlin
- Fr. Paul J. McLaughlin
- Fr. Benjamin J. McMahon, Jr.
- Fr. Gerard T. McMahon
- Fr. Francis J. McManus
- Fr. John Davitt McNamara
- Fr. Paul G. McPartland
- Fr. Richard E. McQuade
- Cardinal Humberto S. Medeiros
- Fr. Richard Francis Meehan
- Fr. Robert V. Meffan
- Fr. John M. Mendicoa
- Fr. James Paul Menge
- Fr. Fiori Dominic Menna
- Fr. Donald E. Messier
- Fr. Raymond P. Messier
- Br. Edward Michael
- Fr. Lawrence Joseph Michaud
- Fr. Edwin Modicowitz
- Fr. William H. Morgan
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- Fr. Philip Moriarity
- Fr. Paul J. Moriarty
- Fr. Robert H. Morrissette
- Br. Thomas Morrissey
- Fr. Thomas F. Motherway
- Fr. Jay Michael Mullin
- Fr. Alfred M. Murphy
- Fr. Charles J. Murphy
- Fr. David C. Murphy
- Fr. James E. Murphy
- Fr. Kenneth B. Murphy
- Fr. Bruce Neylon
- Fr. Anthony Ngwumohaike
- Fr. Edward Nicewicz
- Fr. Herbert T. Nichols
- Fr. James R. Nickel
- Fr. William W. Norton
- Fr. W. James Nyhan
- Fr. Thomas Joseph O’Connor
- Fr. Thomas E. O’Dea
- Fr. Brendan W. O’Donoghue
- Fr. Rickard J. O’Donovan
- Fr. Denis O’Driscoll
- Fr. Richard O’Hearn
- Fr. Arthur P. O’Leary
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- Fr. Thomas F. O’Malley
- Fr. Leo J. O’Neil
- Fr. William V. O’Neill
- Fr. Eugene M. O’Sullivan
- Br. Donald O’Toole
- Fr. Francis E. O’Brien, Jr.
- Fr. Christian Ohazulume
- Fr. Lionel P. Ouellette (or Ouelette)
- Fr. Julian S. Pagacz
- Fr. Raymond J. Page
- Deacon Joseph A. Papile
- Fr. Ronald H. Paquin
- Fr. John W. Pegnam
- Fr. Leonard E. Pelletier
- Fr. Varghese Pereppadan
- Fr. Mario Pezzotti
- Fr. John M. Picardi, Jr.
- Fr. Raymond C. Plourde
- Fr. Steven W. Poitras
- Fr. Leo E. Pollard
- Fr. James R. Porter
- Fr. James F. Power
- Fr. Ronald D. Provost
- Fr. Raymond A. Prybis
- Fr. Joseph P. Quinlan
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- Fr. Justin J. Quinn
- Br. Dennis Raeihle
- Fr. Henry J. Rancourt
- Fr. Edward A. Rausch
- Fr. Redmond H. Raux
- Fr. Anthony J. Rebeiro
- Fr. Donald J. Rebokus
- Fr. Bernard R. Reilley
- Fr. Joseph P. Reilly
- Fr. John Paul Richard
- Fr. Lucien J. Richard
- Fr. Leo Thomas Riley
- Fr. Charles J. Ring
- Fr. Eugene Riordan
- Fr. James P. Robichaud
- Fr. Raymond A. Robillard
- Fr. Barry Robinson
- Fr. Allan E. Roche
- Fr. Julian Edward Rondeau
- Fr. George J. Rosenkranz
- Fr. George Roulier
- Fr. Ferdinand Roy
- Bishop George E. Rueger
- Fr. Sylvio L. Ruest
- Fr. John R. Russell
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- Fr. Frederick J. Ryan
- Fr. Robert Ryer
- Fr. Paul P. Rynne
- Fr. Michael Sabotor
- Fr. John P. Salvucci
- Fr. William J. Scanlan
- Fr. John Scanlon
- Fr. Paul R. Shanley
- Fr. James C. Shaughnessey
- Fr. Robert A. Shauris
- Fr. Francis S. Shea
- Fr. William B. Shea
- Br. George Sheehan
- Fr. James T. Sheehan
- Fr. Edward F. Sherry
- Fr. William J. Shovelton
- Fr. Gilbert J. Simoes
- Fr. Donald D. Simonds
- Fr. James A. Sipitkowski
- Sister Mary Mark
- Fr. Maurice Souza
- Fr. D. George Spagnolia
- Fr. Nicholas J. Spagnolo
- Fr. Bernard St. Hilaire
- Fr. Leonard F. Stanton
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- Fr. Justin Steponaitis
- Fr. Francis V. Strahan
- Fr. Andrzej Sujka
- Fr. Bernard L. Sullivan
- Fr. Charles J. Sullivan
- Fr. Eugene P. Sullivan
- Br. John J. Sullivan
- Fr. Michael D. Sullivan
- Fr. T. Raymond Sullivan
- Fr. C. Melvin Surette
- Fr. John M. Sweeney
- Fr. John J. Szantyr
- Fr. Czeslaw Szymanski
- Fr. Patrick J. Tague
- Fr. James Talbot
- Fr. Thomas H. Teczar
- Br. Joseph Thibault
- Br. James S. Thompson
- Fr. J. Garrett Thomson
- Fr. Paul J. Tivnan
- Fr. Louis Toma
- Fr. Ernest E. Tourigney
- Fr. Robert K. Towner
- Br. Eugene Trainor
- Fr. Kevin F. Tripp
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- Fr. James J. Tully
- Fr. Robert Turnbull
- Fr. Andrzej J. Urbaniak
- Fr. Anthony J. Vasaturo
- Fr. Joseph P. Veneto
- Sr. Mary Jane Vidnansky
- Fr. Gerard P. Walsh
- Fr. James P. Walsh
- Fr. James T. Walsh
- Fr. John J. Walsh
- Fr. Leonard Thomas Walsh
- Fr. Martin J. Walsh
- Br. Michael Walsh
- Fr. Michael Walsh
- Fr. William M. Walsh
- Fr. Ronald E. Wamsher
- Fr. Robert A. Ward
- Fr. William F. Waters
- Fr. David P. Welch
- Fr. Richard Joseph Welch
- Bishop Christopher J. Weldon
- Fr. Joseph L. Welsh
- Br. Paul White
- Fr. Paul David White
- Fr. James L. Wilson
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