BOSTON (MA)
WCVB - ABC 5 [Boston MA]
September 16, 2026
By Karen Anderson
For decades, Richard kept the pain and shame from being molested by notorious pedophile priest John Geoghan to himself, sharing it with only a few family members and friends.
He declined to join the more than 120 others who filed claims against the Archdiocese of Boston, who also said they were sexually abused by Geoghan. He wasn’t ready.
He first, a few years ago, said he called the Archdiocese and asked for an apology. But, he said, none came. Then he asked police and prosecutors if they could do anything, but Geoghan died in 2003, killed by a fellow inmate in prison.
So that’s how he came to be at the State House one day this month, talking to 5 Investigates about what Geoghan did to him and why state law is blocking the last recourse he feels he has: suing.
To try and persuade lawmakers to change the law that sets a statute of limitations for survivors of child sexual abuse and limits the award that can be had from nonprofit institutions, Richard, who asked to be identified only by his first name, shared his story.
His father, a Boston firefighter, enrolled him at St. Andrew’s in Boston to avoid the turmoil over busing.
“He thought it would be safer to be at Catholic school,” Richard said.
A month into first grade, his father was killed while fighting a fire.
The nuns introduced him to a priest: Geoghan.
“Said he wanted to pray with me about my father,” Richard said.
But Richard said Geoghan’s intentions were far from prayer.
“He would sexually assault me in various ways,” Richard said. “He told me that Jesus had suffered, I should take pride in my suffering.”
Geoghan told him if he kept quiet, his father might return.
“I would sit in the front steps of my grandmother’s house” in Hyde Park, he recalled. “My grandmother would be like, ‘Don’t you want to play? And I didn’t. I’d just sit on the steps all weekend. And he never did come back.”
Richard said he told a nun about being raped by Geoghan, but she did not believe him.
“She was outraged. She hit me with a yardstick,” Richard said.
In the decades since, Richard went on to work as an EMT, even responding to New York City after the 9/11 attacks. He had a son. But he was never able to heal.
“I haven’t got a good night’s sleep since 1976. And I don’t think I ever will again,” Richard said.
Then there’s the Archdiocese’s complicity in covering up Geoghan’s abuse.
“I can’t even describe how angry it makes me. How sickening it makes me. And so many people knew what was happening. And no one stopped it,” Richard said.
Earlier this year, Richard decided he was ready to seek justice in the courts. However, he quickly learned that Massachusetts law bars child sexual abuse survivors over the age of 53 from suing their abusers and the institutions that enabled them.
For those who can file claims, liability is capped at $20,000 under the state’s charitable immunity law.
“Massachusetts is literally in the dark ages on this issue of charitable immunity. Dark ages,” said Kathryn Robb of Enough Abuse, an advocacy group.
Massachusetts lawmakers are now considering legislation to eliminate both the statute of limitations and the charitable immunity cap for child sexual abuse cases.
“When we make institutions liable for the wrongs that cover up the moving perpetrators around, when we make them liable, they will change,” Robb said.
If passed, the legislation would give survivors like Richard, who are currently barred from bringing claims, two years to file.
The House has unanimously supported the measure. On Thursday, House and Senate members will meet in a conference committee to see if they can finalize the bill. The Legislature has until Jan. 5 to send it to the governor’s desk.
When asked what message he would give to lawmakers, Richard said, “Do the right thing.”