BOSTON (MA)
WCVB - ABC 5 [Boston MA]
October 1, 2026
By Karen Anderson, Jennifer Eagan, and Phil Tenser
Findings include ‘nearly 1,000’ children abused
BOSTON — Massachusetts officials on Wednesday released the final report from a long investigation of child sexual abuse across three Catholic Dioceses.
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s investigation covered the Dioceses of Worcester, Springfield and Fall River. It does not include the Archdiocese of Boston, which was the subject of a 91-page report issued by the office in 2003.
Work on the new report began in 2019, under then-Attorney General Maura Healey, who is now governor. Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office released the findings.
According to a summary issued by Campbell’s office, findings include that “more than 270 Catholic clerics abused nearly 1,000 children across the three dioceses.”
“Behind every one of those numbers. As a child whose safety was violated, a family that was changed forever,” Campbell said.
Findings of the report
The 203-page report is based on interviews with more than 100 survivors, advocates, attorneys, clergy, diocesan officials and employees.
According to Campbell, the years-long investigation led to three cases being referred to district attorneys, and one resulted in criminal charges being issued in district court. In her remarks on Wednesday, the Attorney General acknowledged that survivors have waited years or more for these findings and recognized that some may be frustrated with the lack of criminal prosecution.
“Where criminal prosecution was no longer legally possible. Our responsibility was still to tell the truth of what happened,” she said.
Specific criticism for Diocese of Worcester
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester issued its own report in 2023 about clergy sexual abuse of minors between 1950 and 2022. It did not include names, but found 209 allegations of priest sexual abuse over the 72-year period. Of those, 173 were found to be credible, 28 were unsubstantiated and eight were false or withdrawn.
Wednesday’s new report notes that Worcester continues to be the only diocese in Massachusetts that does not maintain a publicly accessible list of credibly accused clergy.
Recommendations for change
Campbell said her office is now calling on all three dioceses to take new steps to protect children, including:
- “Putting survivors first and using trauma-informed practices when receiving and responding to allegations;
- “Properly reporting and investigating allegations through consistent, thorough and independent processes;
- “Meaningfully enforcing and monitoring restrictions placed on accused and offending priests;
- “Increasing transparency, including by making information about credibly accused clergy publicly accessible; and
- “Strengthening institutional oversight and culture to ensure child-protection policies are consistently followed and enforced.”
It also recommends changes to state law, including:
- “Eliminating the $20,000 charitable immunity cap for civil claims involving child sexual abuse;
- “Eliminating the statute of limitations for civil claims involving child sexual abuse; and
- “Creating an indefinite lookback period to give survivors whose civil claims have already expired an opportunity to seek justice.”
Issues of civil liability
In 2012, dozens of cases of alleged sexual abuse by clergy were settled by the Archdiocese of Boston. Those settlements were described as being in the five- or six-figure range and included no admission of guilt from the Archdiocese.
Earlier this month, 5 Investigates reported that Massachusetts lawmakers are currently considering legislation to eliminate both the statute of limitations and the charitable immunity cap for child sexual abuse cases. If passed, the measure would give survivors who are currently barred from bringing claims two years to file.
During Wednesday’s announcement, Campbell also revealed her personal connection to the issue of child sexual abuse and how it motivates her thinking on the subject.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t share personally that I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, and it’s the first time I’ve ever shared that publicly,” she said.
Response from Diocese of Worcester
In our 2022 diocesan report on child sexual abuse in the history of our diocese Bishop McManus writes: “As your bishop, I am profoundly sorry for the abuse of minors by priests within this diocese since its founding in March 1950. I continue in my commitment with the help of many collaborators to do everything we can to ensure such abuse does not happen again.”
Today the Attorney General has released a report following a grand jury investigation of our diocese along with that of Fall River and Springfield.
We welcome the AG’s report for three reasons.
First, after an exhaustive investigation in which we were fully cooperative, there were no charges filed. It is also worth noting that any complaints of allegations received since 2002 have been immediately forwarded to the local District Attorney’s office.
Secondly, the report validates our own report originally issued in 2004 and updated following the grand jury investigation, noting the number of allegations which have come forward, the time frame when reported, and when the abuse it to have occurred. Both reports point out that the vast majority of cases occurred 40 – 60 years ago. Our procedures over the past three decades, including the way we screen candidates for ordination, as well as the awareness and safety training which was implemented in all our parishes and ministries, have made an enormous difference.
Thirdly, this validates our local implementation of the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Minors was adopted by all the US dioceses of the U.S. Victims have come forward and had their claims heard by clinical social workers and a Review Board with majority membership of skilled, independent advisers from the fields of child trauma and abuse. The diocese has passed each year’s independent compliance audit since the Charter was adopted. And now those efforts serve as a model for other institutions, public or private, who care for children and minors.
We will study the AG’s report to identify any additional improvements that can be made to respond to victims of past abuse and to continue to strengthen efforts to keep children safe.
The updated diocesan report can be found HERE
By Karen Anderson, 5 Investigates Reporter, Jennifer Eagan, Anchor/Reporter and Phil Tenser, Digital Media Manager