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Boston Documents: A Selection

The Boston documents give insight into the situation in that archdiocese, and also show what information is still locked in the archives of other dioceses. See the examples in our feature What's in a Diocesan Archive? The documents listed below have been carefully redacted by the lawyers involved, but if you spot a redaction error, please notify us at staff@bishop-accountability.org, and we will take the file down until the error is corrected. The table below, with its thumbnail descriptions of the documents, is the work of BishopAccountability.org staff (see an explanation of the table's format). We will be revising and fine-tuning the table, and we would appreciate any feedback you have. Some of your questions might be answered already in our Frequently Asked Questions. To jump directly to the documents relating to a particular priest, click on his name: Shanley, Birmingham, Buntel, Burns, Coughlin, Finegan, James D. Foley, Forry, Geoghan, Graham, Johnson, Kelley, Lane, Meffan, Morrissette, Murphy, Paquin, Picardi, O'Leary, O'Sullivan, Rebeiro, Rosenkranz, Rynne, Tivnan, Tourigney, and Wilson. By July 2004 we plan to have all the Addendum documents posted here.

A. Paul R. Shanley

Description From To Date Bates From To Addendum Doc No.
Second known complaint vs Shanley Fr. Arthur Chabot   1967 RCAB 00001 00003 0001
Letter about Shanley's Rochester talk Deloris Stevens Jeanne D. Sweeney 1977-10-04 RCAB 00013 00014 0002
Letter about Shanley's Rochester talk Jeanne D. Sweeney Cardinal Humberto Medeiros 1977-11-17 RCAB 00020   0003
Letter on homosexuality, priests & Shanley Cardinal Humberto Medeiros Cardinal Seper of CDF 1979-02-12 RCAB 00027 00034 0004
Letter denying accusation in RCAB 00001 Fr. Paul R. Shanley Chancellor Francis Sexton 1967 RCAB 00046 00048 0005
Letter asking Shanley to comment on Higgs Fr. John B. McCormack Fr. Paul R. Shanley 1985-06-04 RCAB 00053   0006
Letter of regret for Higgs' disturbance Fr. John B. McCormack Wilma M. Higgs 1985-05-15 RCAB 00056   0007
Letter about Shanley's Rochester talk Wilma M. Higgs Cardinal Bernard Law 1985-04-29 RCAB 00058   0008
Report on meeting with Shanley & Rochester talk (handwritten note at bottom of page) Fr. John B. McCormack File? 1985-07-25 RCAB 00059   0009
Accusation, Shanley's response, call to victim Bishop Robert J. Banks File 1988-03 RCAB 00060   0010
Settlement Agreement involving Shanley     1996-02-18 RCAB 00183 00193 0011
Personal Data Form Fr. Paul Shanley   1968 RCAB 00326 00329 0012
Letter making Shanley administrator of St. Jean's Bishop Thomas V. Daily Fr. Paul R. Shanley 1983-11-04 RCAB 00366   0013
San Bernardino told Shanley is in good standing Bishop Robert Banks Fr. Philip Behan 1990-01-16 RCAB 00379   0014
Leo House description Leo House   1995 RCAB 00511   0015
Memo on Shanley as possible Leo House director Fr. Brian M. Flatley Cardinal Bernard Law 1995-09-13 RCAB 00538 00539 0016
Review board report on 2 accusations vs Shanley RCAB Review Board   1993-12-06 RCAB 00622 00623 0017
Memo on terms of Shanley's leave, with notes Fr. James J. McCarthy Fr. John McCormack 1990-02-02 RCAB 00636   0018
Memo on terms of Shanley's leave Fr. John B. McCormack Fr. James J. McCarthy 1990-02-06 RCAB 00637   0019
Letter accepting Shanley's resignation from St. Jean's Cardinal Bernard Law Fr. Paul R. Shanley 1989-12-07 RCAB 00664 00665 0020
Letter extending Shanley's sick leave Cardinal Bernard Law Fr. Paul R. Shanley 1990-12-11 RCAB 00668   0021
Request for medical retirement & weekend supply Fr. Paul R. Shanley Fr. John B. McCormack 1990-05-13 RCAB 00707 00710 0022
Letter on Shanley & Medeiros in gay press Paul J. McGeady Cardinal Humberto Medeiros 1979-04-02 RCAB 00813   0023
Attachment to RCAB 00813: Shanley vs. Medeiros John J. Groczak   1979-11-10 RCAB 00763   0024
Attachment to RCAB 00813: Men & Boys Daniel Tsang   1979-11-12 RCAB 00816 00817 0025
Shanley Assignment Record Chancery File 1975 II 0144   0026
Letter about Shanley and NAMBLA meeting Hugh W. Weston Cardinal Humberto Medeiros 1983-05-05 II 0669   0027
Letter about Shanley and NAMBLA meeting Joseph H. Moynihan Cardinal Humberto Medeiros 1983-07-05 II 0686, 0687 0689 0028
Letter making Shanley pastor of St. Jean's Cardinal Bernard Law Fr. Paul R. Shanley 1984-12-11 II 0692   0029
Victim's reply to Helmick's 1986-08-19 response Bryan Schultz Cardinal Bernard Law 1986-08-25 DG 0001   0030
Letter of victim on TV series "1986" & church's role Bryan Schultz Cardinal Bernard Law 1986-07-10 DG 0002   0031
Affidavit of Daniel [ ] Daniel [ ]   2003-07-16       0032
Affidavit of Bryan Schultz Bryan Schultz   2003-07-15       0033
Summary of Schultz accusation Chancery File   DG 0233 0234 0034
Letter rebuffing victim's letter (DG-0002) Fr. William M. Helmick Bryan Schultz 1986-08-19       0035
Relevant excerpts from deposition Bishop Robert J. Banks   2002-11-07       0036
Relevant excerpts from deposition Dr. Edwin H. Cassem   2003-05-20       0037
Relevant excerpts from deposition Jacqueline Gauvreau   2002-10-25       0038
Relevant excerpts from deposition Msgr. William H. Helmick   2002-05-22       0039
Relevant excerpts from deposition Cardinal Bernard Law   2002-06-05       0040
Relevant excerpts from deposition Fr. James J. McCarthy   2002-09-25       0041
Relevant excerpts from deposition Fr. Paul R. Shanley   2002-12-09       0042
Responses to requests for admissions Bishop Thomas V. Daily   2003-01-21       0043
Responses to requests for admissions Cardinal Bernard Law   2002-05-31       0044
Responses to requests for admissions Bishop John B. McCormack   2003-01-06       0045


2. Joseph Birmingham

Description From To Date Bates From To Addendum Doc. No.
Notes on meeting with Birmingham and accusers Msgr. Thomas J. Finnegan File 1964-11-04 Birmingham 2.1   0046
Birmingham Assignment Record Chancery File 1989 Birmingham 2.33   0047
Letter about rumors and facts regarding Birmingham Fr. Patrick J. Kelly Fr. John J. Jennings 1970-01-17 Birmingham 2.5 2.6 0048
Letter calling Birmingham fit to be pastor Dr. Philip Quinn Fr. Robert J. Banks 1985-05-16 Birmingham 2.1   0049
Notes on meetings with victim and Birmingham Bishops Mulcahy & Banks File 1987-02-12 Birmingham 2.11   0050
Handwritten draft of Birmingham 2.11 Bishops Mulcahy & Banks File 1987-02-12 Birmingham 2.12 2.14 0051
Institute of Living report Evelyn Necochea Fr. John B. McCormack 1987-03-25 Birmingham 2.20 2.21A 0052
Letter asking about Birmingham's assignments Parishioner of St. Ann's Cardinal Bernard Law 1987-04-04 Birmingham 2.22 2.23 0053
Evasive response to Birmingham 2.22-23 Fr. John B. McCormack Parishioner of St. Ann's 1987-04-14 Birmingham 2.25   0054
Handwritten note about Institute of Living expenses Fr. Joseph Birmingham Fr. John B. McCormack 1987-05-18 Birmingham 2.26   0055
Notes on discussion with Sr. Grace Kenning   File 1992-10-13 Birmingham 2.43 2.42 0056
Release of All Claims Victim   1991-03-19 Birmingham 2.50 2.53 0057
Notes on accusations & "space for floats" Sr. Rita McCarthy File 1995-07-14 Birmingham 2.88   0058
Notes on accusation and therapy (see B 2.88) Sr. Rita McCarthy File 1995-09-11 Birmingham 2.91   0059
Note about meeting victim regarding therapy Sr. Rita McCarthy? File 1995-09-26 Birmingham 2.92   0060
Bill for Birmingham's therapy Dr. John J. Curran RCAB 1987-10-10 JB 248   0061
Invitation to resolve claim without litigation Jeffrey E. Rossman Wilson D. Rogers 1990-11-09 JB 0014 0015 0062
Affidavit May Elaine (Carrette) McGee   2003-03-10       0063
Affidavit Beatrice Ciaramitaro   2002-06-20       0064
Affidavit John Doe 3   2003-07-18       0065
Affidavit Thomas R. Blanchette   2003-07-18       0066
Relevant excerpts from deposition Bishop John B. McCormack   2002-06-03       0067
Relevant excerpts from deposition Cardinal Bernard Law   2002-10-11       0068
Third Amended Complaint, Hogan et al. v. RCAB Robert A. Sherman   2002-08-05       0069
Notes on meeting (B 2.1 with different redactions) Msgr. Thomas J. Finnegan File 1964-11-04 JB 0004   0070
Notes on meetings (B 2.11 with different redactions) Bishops Mulcahy & Banks File 1987-02-12 JB 0010   0071

2. Richard Buntel (see also the main Pattern & Practice page, with an essay on Buntel)

Description From To Date Bates From To Addendum Doc. No.
Buntel Assignment Record Chancery File 1994-06-01 Buntel-2 003   0072
Letter requesting transfer [from St. Joseph, Malden] Fr. Richard A. Buntel Cardinal Humberto Medeiros 1983-06-24 Buntel-2 036   0073
Memo: Buntel denies problem, Daily offers help Bishop Thomas V. Daily Fr. James J. McCarthy 1983-08-01 Buntel-2 041   0074
Letter granting transfer to St. Catherine, Westford Cardinal Humberto Medeiros Fr. Richard A. Buntel 1983-08-11 Buntel-2 042   0075
Letter: alcoholism, drugs, & homosexual activity Bishop John M. D'Arcy Bishop Thomas V. Daily 1983-11-01 Buntel-2 046 047 0076
Reply: Buntel has denied, Daily will confront again Bishop Thomas V. Daily Bishop John M. D'Arcy 1983-11-03 Buntel-2 048   0077
Letter setting up appointment to meet Bishop Thomas V. Daily Fr. Richard A. Buntel 1983-11-16 Buntel-2 050   0078
Letter on Buntel's denial and wish to see D'Arcy Bishop Thomas V. Daily Bishop John M. D'Arcy 1983-11-28 Buntel-2 051   0079
Letter reporting that Buntel has not contacted D'Arcy Bishop John M. D'Arcy Bishop Thomas V. Daily 1983-12-21 Buntel-2 053   0080
Memo on parishioner's concerns regarding Buntel Msgr. Frederick J. Ryan Bishop Thomas V. Daily 1984-04-27 Buntel-2 054 055 0081
Letter: Did not get job at Christ the King, Hudson Fr. James J. McCarthy Fr. Richard A. Buntel 1988-11-05 Buntel-2 063   0082
Letter: Did not get job at St. Joseph, Pepperell Fr. James J. McCarthy Fr. Richard A. Buntel 1992-11-24 Buntel-2 073   0083
Letter: Did not get job at St. Richard, Danvers Fr. James J. McCarthy Fr. Richard A. Buntel 1993-07-23 Buntel-2 085   0084
Letter: No job at Our Lady Help of Christians, Concord Fr. Kevin J. Deeley Fr. Richard A. Buntel 1993-08-27 Buntel-2 086   0085
Letter: No job at Immaculate Conception, Winchester Fr. Kevin J. Deeley Fr. Richard A. Buntel 1994-02-04 Buntel-2 091   0086
Notes on victim and Buntel's sex and drug use Bishop John B. McCormack File 1994-02-04 Buntel-2 092   0087
Report on Buntel's response to complaints   File 1994-02-28 Buntel-2 103 104 0088
Draft of parish announcement on Buntel's leave   File 1994-02-28 Buntel-2 109   0089
Draft of parish announcement on Buntel's leave   File 1994-02-28 Buntel-2 110   0090
Letter placing Buntel on administrative leave Cardinal Bernard Law Fr. Richard A. Buntel 1994-02-25 Buntel-2 102   0091
Complaint in Eisenberg v. RCAB and Law Robert A. Sherman   2002-09-16       0092

3. Robert Burns (documents from Addendum)

Description From To Date Bates From To Addendum Doc. No.
Notes on Burns "problem: little children" Fr. Gilbert S. Phinn File 1982-10-18 Burns2 011   0093
Notes: Daily's reservations, bring to Medeiros Fr. Gilbert S. Phinn File 1982-10-18 Burns2 018   0094
Notes: Hughes, Medeiros on placement Fr. Gilbert S. Phinn File 1982-10-27 Burns2 027   0095
Letter placing Burns at St. Thomas Aquinas, JP Cardinal Humberto Medeiros Fr. John E. Thomas 1982-11-08 Burns2 038   0096
Letter placing Burns at St. Mary, Charlestown Cardinal Bernard Law Fr. James B. Canniff 1986-06-24 Burns2 052   0097
Report on abuse complaint Fr. John B. McCormack File 1991-03-18 Burns2 054*   0098
Draft press statement on civil suit alleging abuse   File 1992-02-05 Burns2 077   0099
Draft press statement on civil suit alleging abuse   File 1992-02-05 Burns2 078   0100
Request that Burns be laicized Cardinal Bernard Law Cardinal Angelo Sodano 1999-04-29 Burns2 288   0101
Memo supporting Burns2 288 and attached to it Delegate Cardinal Angelo Sodano 1999-05 Burns2 290   0102
Relevant excerpt from deposition Cardinal Bernard Law           0103

3A. Robert Burns (documents from GT Press Kit, December 4, 2002)

Description From To Date Bates From To Press Kit Pg. No.
Letter ending appointment at St. Thomas Aquinas, JP Cardinal Bernard Law Fr. John E. Thomas 1986-06-24 Burns2 051   8
Letter ending appointment at St. Mary, Charlestown Cardinal Bernard Law Fr. James B. Canniff 1991-04-16 Burns2 057   10
Memo sending 2 reports of conversations about abuse Fr. John B. McCormack Wilson Rogers 1991-04-26 Burns2 058   11
Parish statement on disposition of case against Burns Chancery   1996-03-07 Burns2 145   12
Memo on call from victim Fr. Brian M. Flatley File 1996-03-21 Burns2 156   13
Memo on Burns: potential publicity Fr. William F. Murphy Bishop William F. Murphy 1998-09-10 Burns2 250   14
Affidavit Bishop James W. Malone   1999-03-04 Burns2 273 275 1

4. Richard T. Coughlin

Description From To Date Bates From To Addendum Doc. No.
Notes on Coughlin and meeting with David Coleman Fr. John B. McCormack File 1985-11-30 Coughlin 1   0104
Typed notes on Coughlin and meeting with Coleman Fr. John B. McCormack File 1985-11-30 Coughlin 2   0105
Living on a 'fault' line David Coleman Fr. John B. McCormack 1992-12-16 Coughlin 3 6 0106
Assignment Record Chancery File 1971-02-19 Coughlin 16   0107
Note about 1985-11-30 meeting with Coleman Fr. John B. McCormack Bishop Robert J. Banks 1985-12-03 Coughlin 20   0108
Report about call from David Coleman Sr. Catherine Mulkerrin Fr. John B. McCormack 1992-11-19 Coughlin 23   0109
Phone message Msgr. John Urell Fr. John B. McCormack 1992-12-21 Coughlin 31   0110
Phone message Msgr. John Urell Fr. John B. McCormack 1992-12-28 Coughlin 32   0111
Notes mulling over 1985 meeting with Coleman Fr. John B. McCormack File 1992-12-? Coughlin 33 34 0112
Notes on Franklin and possible Globe article Fr. John B. McCormack File 1993-01-? Coughlin 35 39 0113
Note on phone message Fr. John B. McCormack File 1993-01-04 Coughlin 40   0114
Draft press release John B. Walsh Fr. John B. McCormack 1993-02-12 Coughlin 41 42 0115
Story: Chorus Leader Resigns (Orange CA) Catholic News Service   1993-02-12 Coughlin 43   0116
Letter rejecting demand and offering possible therapy Wilson D. Rogers, Jr. Jeffrey Newman 1993-03-25 Coughlin 44 45 0117
Phone message   Fr. John B. McCormack 1993-03-26 Coughlin 46   0118
Notes on reporters' questions Fr. John B. McCormack File 1993-03-? Coughlin 47   0119
Globe: Man says aide to cardinal let abuse claim & James L. Franklin   1993-03-31 Coughlin 49 50 0120
Notes on finding record of 1985 meeting Fr. John B. McCormack File 1993-04-? Coughlin 52   0121
Press statement on finding record of 1985 meeting John B. Walsh Media 1993-04-02 Coughlin 54   0122
Notes about call with Msgr. John Urell Fr. John B. McCormack File 1992-12-? Coughlin 56   0123
"A Very Painful Issue" Pilot Editorial   1993-04-02 Coughlin 58   0124
Notes about call with Msgr. John Urell Fr. John B. McCormack File 1992-12-18 Coughlin 157   0125
Affidavit David Coleman   1993-07-18       0126

5. Paul J. Finegan

Description From To Date Bates From To Addendum Doc. No.
Letter announcing transfer to St. Margaret, Lowell Cardinal Bernard Law Fr. Paul J. Finegan 1987-05-26 Finnegan-2 095   0127
Letter responding to allegation Fr. Gilbert S. Phinn Author of Finnegan-2-121-123 1980-10-? Finnegan-2 106   0128
Letter responding to Finnegan-2-106 Author of Finnegan-2-121-123 Fr. Gilbert S. Phinn 1980-10-18 Finnegan-2 107 108 0129
Letter responding to Finnegan-2-107-108 Fr. Gilbert S. Phinn Author of Finnegan-2-121-123 1980-11-05 Finnegan-2 109 110 0130
Note about phone call Fr. Gilbert S. Phinn File 1980-? Finnegan-2 111   0131
Note about phone call and alleged resolution Fr. Gilbert S. Phinn File 1980-? Finnegan-2 112   0132
Letter describing abuse Victim (sister of addressee) Author of Finnegan-2-121-123 1980-10-? Finnegan-2 115 120 0133
Letter alleging abuse of sister Sister of victim Fr. Gilbert S. Phinn 1980-10-12 Finnegan-2 121 123 0134
Letter announcing transfer to St. Michael, N. Andover Cardinal Humberto Medeiros Fr. Paul J. Finegan 1975-05-21 Finnegan-2 313   0135
Transfer (duplicate of Finegan-2-095) Cardinal Bernard Law Fr. Paul J. Finegan 1987-05-26 Finnegan-2 312   0136
Personnel Record     1970-05-23 Finnegan-2 315   0137
Affidavit Author of Finnegan-2-121-123   2003-07-15       0138
First Amended Complaint Jeffrey A. Newman   2002-11-26       0139

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