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  Archdiocese Unveils List of Priests Accused of Abuse

Milford Daily News
August 25, 2011

http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x383664710/Archdiocese-unveils-list-of-priests-accused-of-abuse

The Archdiocese of Boston today launched a web-based publication, www.bostoncatholic.org that lists the names of more than 120 clergy accused of sexual abuse of a child.

“Having met with hundreds of survivors, I know firsthand the scars you carry,'' Cardinal Sean O'Malley said in the document published with the list. "And I carry with me every day the pain of the Church’s failures. I express once again my sorrow for your pain and my apology for any way the Church and its clergy have failed you.

“My deepest hope and prayer is that the efforts I am announcing today will provide some additional comfort and healing for those who have suffered from sexual abuse by clergy and will continue to strengthen our efforts to protect God’s children.”

Since 2002, the archdiocese has had a policy to immediately report to law enforcement all allegations of clergy sexual abuse of children. Notifications are made to local district attorneys’ offices, the Massachusetts Attorney General, and, when appropriate, federal law enforcement, the archdiocese statement said.

This is the first time that names of accused clerics have been compiled by the archdiocese in a central location and a readily accessible format, including the names of accused clergy in the following categories: Those who have been found guilty, either by the state or the church, of sexually abusing a child; those who have voluntarily been laicized, no longer priests, after being accused of abuse of a child; those who have been publicly accused but were already laicized when the accusations were made; and the names of deceased priests publicly accused of abusing a child.

Information posted includes the cleric’s year of birth and year of ordination; whether the cleric is alive or deceased, and if deceased, the year of death; for members of the clergy who are alive, their status as well as the date of any laicization, dismissal, or conviction; and a link to the cleric’s assignment history.

In addition, the archdiocese has published a separate listing of the names of clergy who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing a child where the allegations have been found unsubstantiated by the Review Board after a preliminary investigation or where the priest has been acquitted after a canonical process. In a number of cases, these priests have been returned to active ministry.

The archdiocese also asks that anyone with additional information or corrections to the lists contact the Delegate for Investigations at 617-746-5639.

 
 

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