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  Ex-Canton Priest Accused of Sex Assault

By Sue Reinert
Patriot Ledger (Quincy, MA)
May 15, 2002

Rev. Frost sued over 1980 incident

By Sue Reinert

The Patriot Ledger

A former Canton priest is accused of molesting a teenaged boy in Canton in 1980.

A lawsuit filed May 1 against the Rev. Peter J. Frost is the first time he has been named in a court action, said Douglas Sheff, the attorney for the plaintiff.

The Rev. Frost, 62, was a priest at St. Gerard Majella Church in Canton when the alleged assault occurred, Sheff said.

The plaintiff, who now lives on the West Coast, was 14 and worked at the church rectory, Sheff said.

"He was befriended by Father Frost," the attorney said. The priest invited the boy to the Rev. Frost's father's home and molested him there after giving him alcohol, Sheff said.

The Patriot Ledger is not naming the plaintiff because he is the possible victim of a sexual assault and did not give his permission to be identified.

The Rev. Frost is listed in the Archdiocese directory of clergy as being on "health leave" or "sick leave" in the last few years, a designation for many priests accused of sexual misconduct. He lives in Natick.

Sheff said the victim's father confronted the Rev. Frost after the alleged assault "and the priest admitted it."

"He said he would go for help," Sheff said. The family didn't notify archdiocese officials, and Frost continued to serve in the parish, Sheff said.

The lawsuit also names the archdiocese and says the church assigned the Rev. Frost to the Canton church despite knowing "he had some troubles," Sheff said.

He said the alleged victim was assured a number of years ago that the Rev. Frost "was no longer a priest."

However, Canton town records indicate the priest performed a wedding in 1999, the lawyer said.

Sheff said another man has told his office he was molested by the Rev. Frost "in the 1960s."

This person said the priest repeatedly assaulted him for two years.

"When (the victim) confronted him, Frost said, 'If you tell anyone I will kill you,'" Sheff said.

 
 

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