MEDIA RELEASE – JANUARY 4, 2016

MAINE
Road to Recovery

Fraudulent Concealment by the Diocese of Portland, Maine, for decades leads to Civil Complaint filings by six (6) courageous childhood clergy sexual abuse victims of Fr. James Vallely

A copy of a church document obtained through legal discovery by Attorney Mitchell Garabedian (617-523-6250) indicates that the late Bishop Daniel J. Feeney knew of the sexual abuse of minor children by Fr. James Vallely in approximately 1956

The document obtained is a copy of a letter written by a currently-retired Portland, Maine, priest to a co-chancellor of the Diocese of Portland, Maine, purported to be Msgr. Marc B. Caron, in 2005. The letter indicates that as far back as approximately 1956, the late Bishop Daniel J. Feeney knew about allegations of sexual abuse against Fr. James Vallely at St. John’s Parish, Bangor, Maine. Bishop Feeney, while bishop of Portland, Maine, did not notify the public about Fr. Vallely being a sexual abuser. Subsequent to the notification, Fr. James Vallely was transferred by the late Bishop Daniel J. Feeney from St. John’s Parish, Bangor, Maine, to St. Dominic’s Parish, Portland, Maine. Fr. James Vallely was also stationed at St. Louis Parish, Limestone, Maine; Holy Name Parish, Machias, Maine; and, St. Michael’s Parish in South Berwick, Maine

What
A press conference announcing the filing of six (6) civil complaints of childhood clergy sexual abuse against Fr. James Vallely, deceased priest of the Portland, Maine, Diocese, by six (6) courageous childhood clergy sexual abuse victims of Fr. James Vallely who were parishioners of St. Dominic’s Parish, Portland, Maine, (approximately 1958-1960); St. John’s Parish, Bangor, Maine (approximately 1969); and St. Michael’s Parish, South Berwick, Maine (approximately 1975-1978). Although Fr. James Vallely was not assigned to St. John’s Parish in Bangor, Maine, in approximately 1969, he did return to that parish in approximately 1969 to participate in at least one Catholic Mass where he met the victim.

When
Tuesday, January 5, 2015 at 11:00 am

Where
On the public sidewalk in front of the headquarters of the Diocese of Portland, Maine, 510 Ocean Avenue, Portland, Maine 04103 – 207-773-6471

Who
Dr. Robert M. Hoatson, Co- founder and President, Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity based in New Jersey that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families; 862-368-2800

Why
During earlier litigation against Fr. James Vallely, the Diocese of Portland, Maine, produced a copy of a letter written by a currently retired Portland, Maine, priest in 2005 which revealed that the Diocese of Portland and the late Bishop Daniel J. Feeney had knowledge of multiple accusations of sexual abuse of minor children against Fr. James Vallely as far back as 1956. The uncovering of that document has led to the filing of six (6) civil complaints of childhood sexual abuse against Fr. James Vallely and the Diocese of Portland, Maine. The Diocese of Portland fraudulently concealed the sexual abuse information about Fr. James Vallely, thus enabling childhood sexual abuse victims of Fr. James Vallely from approximately 1958 until 1978 to file court claims against Fr. James Vallely and the Diocese of Portland, Maine

Contacts
Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D. – Road to Recovery, Inc. – 862-368-2800
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – 617-523-6250

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