MAINE
WLBZ
NEWS CENTER and Elle Ousfar , WLBZ August 15, 2016
BOSTON, Massachusetts (NEWS CENTER) – – The Law Office of Mitchell Garabedian confirmed that a 1.2 million dollar settlement has been reached between Diocese of Portland, Maine, and six childhood victims of sexual abuse of Fr. James Vallely.
According to the press release, the Diocese of Portland, Maine, and Bishop Daniel J. Feeney had knowledge of multiple accusations of sexual abuse of minor children against Fr. James Vallely for decades but fraudulently concealed it.
“As a result of litigation in an earlier case against Fr. James Vallely and the Diocese of Portland, Maine, the diocese produced a copy of a letter written by a currently-retired priest in 2005 which revealed that the Diocese of Portland, Maine, and Bishop Daniel J. Feeney had knowledge of multiple accusations of sexual abuse of minor children against Fr. James Vallely as far back as 1956,” said Garabedian.
The press release said Fr. James Vallely was assigned to St. John’s Parish in Bangor, Maine, in the 1950s. Instead of removing him from priestly ministry and notifying the public, Bishop Daniel J. Feeney transferred Fr. James Vallely to another parish where children were placed at risk of further sexual abuse by a serial pedophile priest.
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