Priest and Clergy Sexual Abuse in Massachusetts

A Long History of Abuse in Massachusetts Churches

Massachusetts is home to the second-highest number of Catholics per capita. Boston holds the highest percentage of Catholics among all large dioceses nationwide. Over the years, multiple investigations have uncovered widespread allegations of sexual abuse within Catholic dioceses across the state.

In 2002, a major report published by The Boston Globe exposed decades of sexual abuse by priests in the Archdiocese of Boston. The investigation, known as the “Spotlight Investigation: Abuse in the Catholic Church,” also revealed efforts by church leaders to cover up misconduct.

The report gained national attention, and subsequent national and international investigations revealed thousands of sexual abuse victims and allegations spanning decades. These investigations also uncovered evidence of institutional cover-ups.

Immediately following the investigation, several Boston-area priests were charged and convicted, including:

• John Geoghan
• John Hanlon
• Paul Shanley
• Robert V. Gale
• Jesuit priest James Talbot

These cases resulted in criminal convictions and prison sentences.

It was also revealed that Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, then Archbishop of Boston, played a role in covering up sexual abuse by transferring some of the accused priests rather than removing them. He later resigned in 2002.

Major Settlements in Massachusetts Abuse Cases

Following the Spotlight Investigations, the Archdiocese of Boston reached large settlements with survivors.

• In 2002, victims of John Geoghan received a $10 million settlement
• In 2003, an additional $85 million was paid in settlements to 552 survivors 

Since then, additional lawsuits have continued across Massachusetts, involving multiple religious institutions and dioceses, including those of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester.

Fall River Diocese Releases Lists of Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse

The Fall River Diocese maintains lists of priests credibly accused or publicly accused of sexual abuse against minors. The list first appeared on the Diocesan website in October 2021. On October 1, 2024, the Diocese updated its "Credibly Accused" clergy list.

The two lists include priests, seminarians and other religious orders:

• Who had credible allegations meeting the semblance of truth standard
• Who are publicly named in media reports or third-party lists prepared by advocacy groups or other religious orders
• Who were accused of sexual abuse against a minor where legal proceedings are still pending

All individuals on this list served in the Diocese of Fall River.

Clergy Members Accused of Child Abuse in Massachusetts

We have compiled information on priests and clergy members in Massachusetts who have been:

• Named in lawsuits
• Suspended from the ministry following allegations of sexual abuse
• Credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors

This includes clergy, priests, nuns, and religious educators from four Massachusetts dioceses:

If the name of a priest or other clergy member you are searching for does not appear in the lists below, it does not mean you don't have a potential claim against that individual. These lists are continually updated as new reports, investigations, and lawsuits emerge.

If you or a family member experienced abuse by a member of the Catholic Church or another religious institution, legal options may still be available. We are actively pursuing cases against Catholic clergy and figures from other religious institutions. Please contact us regardless of whether the individual appears on the lists below.

Archdiocese of Boston

The following priests and clergy from the Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts, have been credibly accused of or have settled legal claims related to the sexual abuse of a minor:

• John H. Acres
• Brother Albert
• Joseph Angeli
• John T. Atwater
• Charles E. Aubut
• Leonard Bacigalupo
• Eugene Bailot
• Gary E. Balcom
• Frederick L. Barr
• Robert E. Barrett
• Richard J. Barry
• Settimo (or Septimo) Basso
• Sydney H. Bayers
• Robert P. Beale
• Leon F. Beauvais
• George C. Berthold
• Joseph E. Birmingham
• John "Giovanni" Bocciarelli
• Paul J. Bolduc
• Barry F. Bossa
• Clarence R. Boucher
• Raymond A. Boulanger
• Xavier Leonard Boulanger (Br. Leonard)
• Real (Ray) Bourque
• James E. Braley
• Philippe Breton
• Andrew Brizzolara
• Anthony L. Buchette
• Myron F. Bullock
• Richard A. Buntel
• Robert Burgess
• Richard J. Butler
• William L. Butler
• Joseph F. Byrne
• George J. Callaghan
• Alan E. Caparella
• Michael John Carew
• John P. Carroll
• Frederick J. Cartier, Jr.
• Guido Caverzan
• John C. Chaisson
• Edmund P. Charest
• Joseph K. Coleman
• Jeremiah J. Collins
• John K. Connell
• James E. Connelly
• Denis A. Conte
• John M. Cotter
• Richard T. Coughlin
• Charles "Charley" G. Coyle
• Gerard E. Creighton
• Edmund W. Croke
• Joseph I. Crowley,
• Eugenio (Eugene) Cumerlato
• William J. Cummings
• Thomas M. Curran
• Brother Cuthbert
• Robert F. Daly
• Sister Agnes Daniels
• Stephen F. Dawber
• Fidelis (Francis) DeBerardinis
• Paul M. Desilets
• Gerard V. Dever
• Charles F. Dewey
• John J. Dewire
• Mark C. Doherty
• George Donnelly
• Thomas D. Donnelly
• John Francis Dority
• Ronald Dorsey
• William J. Duffy
• John A. Dunn
• Leo V. Dwyer
• Frank E. Fairbairn
• Nolan Farrell
• Robert D. Fay
• Robert C. Fichtner
• Paul J. Finegan
• John H. Flynn,
• James J. Foley
• James D. Foley
• Thomas P. Forry
• Michael Smith Foster
• John Fowler
• Joseph P. Fratic
• Ross S. Frey
• Peter J. Frost
• Joseph Fugolo
• Joseph A. Fusoni
• Robert V. Gale
• Brian Gallagher
• John J. Gallagher
• James E. Gaudreau
• John J Geoghan
• Kenneth Ghastin
• Jerome F. Gillespie
• Thomas M. Gillespie
• Randal (James R.) Gillette
• Joseph Gilpin
• Louis J. Govoni
• Daniel M. Graham
• John E. Guiney
• Arthur J. Hagan
• John R. Hanlon
• William A Hennessy
• Gerald J. Hickey
• Paul Hightower
• Bernard St. Hilaire
• Edward Anthony Holmes
• James Barron Holsenbach
• Paul William Hurley
• James Hutchinson
• Raymond L. Hyder
• Kelvin E Iguabita-Rodriguez
• Alphonse (Mike) B. Jansonis
• Harold J. Johnson
• Richard G. Johnson
• Donald J. Joyce
• Peter S Kanchong
• Charles R. Kane
• Dominic "John Walter" Karow
• John F. Keane
• Dennis A. Keefe
• Bernard J. Keenan
• Donald J. Keenan
• Arnold E. Kelley
• Edward T. Kelley
• Joseph F. (W?) Kenney
• Edward M. Keohan
• Ricardo (Richard) Kerressey
• Robert W. Kirchmeyer
• Robert J. Knapp
• Michael J. Kossak
• Leo Labbe
• Leo P. Landry
• Bernard J. Lane
• James H. Lane
• John J. Lane
• Anthony J. Laurano
• Victor C. LaVoie
• Kenneth A. LeBlanc
• Charles M. Loeffler
• Samuel J. Lombard
• John P. Lyons
• John M. (Juan)
• James L. MacGuinness
• Thomas H. Maguire
• Paul J. Mahan
• William F. Maloney
• Paul F. Manning
• Sister Mary Mark
• Jon C. Martin
• Richard O. Matte
• Julius Martin Mattingly
• Benedict Mawn
• John Kevin McAndrews
• Mary McAvoy
• George V. McCabe
• James T. McDonald
• Paul E. McDonald
• Donald J. McGurrin
• Joseph McInnis
• James T. McKeon
• John E. McLaughlin
• Paul J. McLaughlin
• Gerard T. McMahon
• Benjamin J. McMahon, Jr.
• Francis J. McManus
• Paul G. McPartland
• Richard E. McQuade
• Humberto S. Medeiros
• Robert V. Meffan
• F. Dominic Menna
• Edward Michael
• Lawrence Joseph Michaud
• Edwin Modicowitz (Modicourtz)
• William H. Morgan
• Paul J. Moriarty
• Robert H. Morrissette
• Thomas F. Motherway
• Jay Michael Mullin
• Alfred M. Murphy
• Charles J. Murphy
• David C. Murphy
• Kenneth B. Murphy
• Anthony Ngwumohaike
• W. James Nyhan
• Rickard J. O'Donovan
• Christian Ohazulume
• Arthur P. O'Leary
• William V. O'Neill
• Eugene M. O'Sullivan
• Lionel P. Ouellette
• Julian S. Pagacz
• Joseph A. Papile
• Ronald H. Paquin
• Leonard E. Pelletier
• Varghese Pereppadan
• Mario Pezzotti
• John M. Picardi,
• Raymond C. Plourde
• Steven W. Poitras
• Leo E. Pollard
• James F. Power
• Raymond A. Prybis
• Dennis Raeihle
• Henry Rancourt
• Redmond H. Raux
• Anthony J. Rebeiro
• Brother Regis
• Joseph P. Reilly
• Lucien J. Richard
• Leo Thomas Riley
• James P. Robichaud
• Barry Robinson
• Allan E. Roche
• Julian Edward Rondeau
• George J. Rosenkranz
• George Roulier
• Frederick J. Ryan
• Robert Ryer
• Paul P. Rynne
• William J. Scanlan
• Paul R. Shanley
• James C. Shaughnessey (Shaughnessy)
• Francis S. Shea
• William B. Shea
• George Sheehan
• Edward F. Sherry
• D. George Spagnolia
• Nicholas J. Spagnolo
• Leonard F. Stanton
• Andrzej Sujka
• Eugene P. Sullivan
• Michael D. Sullivan
• C. Melvin Surette
• Czeslaw (Chet) Szymanski
• Patrick J. Tague
• James F. Talbot
• James S. Thompson
• J. Garrett "Gary" Thomson
• Paul J. Tivnan
• Louis Toma
• Ernest E. Tourigney
• Robert K. Towner
• James J. Tully
• Robert (John) Turnbull (OSA)
• Andrzej (Andrew) J. Urbaniak
• Anthony J. Vasaturo
• Joseph P. Veneto
• Bro. Michael Walsh
• John J. Walsh
• Leonard Thomas Walsh
• Martin J. Walsh
• Michael Walsh
• William M. Walsh
• Robert A. Ward
• Joseph L. Welsh
• John "Jack" J. White
• Paul White
• Paul David White
• James L. Wilson

Diocese of Fall River

Credibly Accused

The following priests, seminarians, and other religious figures serving in the Diocese of Fall River have been credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor, based on standards set by the diocese:

• Manuel Andrade Jr.
• Armando Annunziato
• Jose M. Bettencourt Avila (aka George Avellar)
• William F. Baker
• H. Stanley Barney
• Adrien E. Bernier
• William J. Boffa
• Normand J. Boulet
• Donald J. Bowen
• James F. Buckley
• Edward J. Byington
• George R. Carrier
• James A. Clark
• Paul G. Connolly
• Anthony Andre Corbin
• John P. Cronin
• Maurice de Souza
• Richard E. Degagne
• Arthur T. DeMello
• Arthur C. dos Reis
• J. Arthur G. Dupuis
• Hugo Dylla
• James W. Fahey
• Stephen A. Fernandes
• Bento R. Fraga
• Steven R. Furtado
• Rene Gaudin
• Frank Genevive
• John A. Gomes
• Angelo Michael Guarin
• Hernando Herrera
• Phillip J. Higgins
• Robert S. Kaszynski
• Cornelius J. Keliher
• Thomas M. Kocik
• Andrew Kozanko
• Michael F. Kuhn
• Daniel W. Lacroix
• David J. Landry
• Joseph D. Maguire (McGuire)
• Raymond W. McCarthy
• Francis J. McManus
• Donald E. Messier
• Thomas J. Mulryan
• James E. Murphy
• Bruce M. Neylon
• Herbert T. Nichols
• James R. Nickel
• William W. Norton
• Edward O. Paquette
• John W. Pegnam
• James R. Porter
• John A. Powers
• Justin J. Quinn
• Edward A. Rausch
• Raymond A. Robillard
• William J. Shovelton
• Gilbert J. Simoes
• Kevin F. Tripp

Publicly Accused

The following priests, seminarians, and other religious figures serving in the Diocese of Fall River have been publicly named in media reports or third-party lists prepared by advocacy groups or other dioceses/religious orders:

• John H. Acres
• Brian Brinker
• Joseph Byrne
• Charles Cavanagh
• William Cullen
• Stephen F. Dawber
• Alexander (Alejandro) Delgado
• Alfred Fredette
• Mark R. Hession
• Michael J. Kossak
• Jose Alfonso Lima
• Thomas F. Motherway
• Thomas E. O'Dea
• Eugene F. Orteneau
• Henry J. Rancourt
• Richard H. Roos
• Nicholas Spagnolo
• James P. Walsh
• Richard J. Wolf

Diocese of Springfield

The following list contains Priests and Clergy from the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor:

• Paul J. Archambault
• Gerald Beauregard
• George A. Berthiaume
• Albert J. Blanchard
• John J. Bonzagni
• Paul T. Boudreau
• Donald A. Desilets
• Michael H. Devlin
• Frederick G. Dion
• Bernard L. Doheny
• Eugene Dranka
• Donald V. Dube
• Thomas L. Dupre (Bp.)
• David M. Farland
• Joseph E. Flood
• Joseph Clarence W. Forand
• Oscar Gatineau
• Lawrence Gauthier
• Alfred C. Graves
• Ernest Karl Huller
• Joseph Roy Jenness
• Vernon Kelly
• Edward M. Kennedy
• John A. Koonz
• Francis P. Lavelle
• Richard R. Lavigne
• Timothy J. Leary
• Ronald Malboeuf
• James A. Martone
• Thomas McCarthy
• John D. McNamara
• Richard F. Meehan
• James P. Menge
• Thomas J. O'Connor
• Richard O'Hearn
• Thomas F. O'Malley
• John R. Russell
• Michael Sabotor
• John Scanlon
• Charles Joseph Sgueglia
• James A. Sipitkowski
• Charles J. Sullivan
• Mary Jane Vidnansky
• James T. Walsh
• Ronald E. Wamsher
• David P. Welch
• Christopher J. Weldon (Bp)

Diocese of Worcester

The following list contains Priests and Clergy from the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor:

• Antonio F. Antonucci
• Brion T. Ares
• John J. Bagley
• Henry S. Banach
• Lee F. Bartlett
• Robert Beaulac
• Andre M. Bernard
• David L. Blizard
• Gerard L. Branconnier
• Richard J. Carelli
• Michael L. Carney
• Joseph Chu Cong
• Joseph A. Coonan
• Chester J. Devlin
• Paul J. Doherty
• Lowe B. Dongor
• Joseph A. Fredette
• Jean-Paul Gagnon
• Timothy J. Harrington (Bp)
• David A. Holley
• Peter J. Inzerillo
• Norman R. Jalbert
• Thomas A. Kane
• Thaddeus (Ted) J. Kardas
• Robert E Kelley
• Louis Laperle
• Edward P. Lettic
• Joseph M. Martin, (M.I.C.M.)
• Raymond P. Messier
• Edward Nicewicz
• Brendan W. O'Donoghue
• Leo J. O'Neil
• Raymond J. Page
• Ronald D. Provost
• Donald J. Rebokus
• Bernard R. Reilley
• George E. Rueger (Bp)
• Robert A. Shauris
• Justin Steponaitis
• John J. Szantyr
• Thomas H. Teczar
• Gerard P. Walsh

Your Legal Rights After Clergy Sexual Abuse

If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse by a priest or other clergy member in Massachusetts, you may have the right to seek financial compensation.

Legal claims may be available even if:

• The abuse happened many years ago
• The priest is deceased or no longer active
• The abuse was not previously reported

The Meneo Law Group is experienced in representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse and can help you understand your legal options. Our team will guide you through the process with compassion and discretion, whether your case involves recent abuse or events that occurred decades ago. Contact us today for a free, confidential case evaluation.