BOSTON (MA)
SNAP - Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests [Chicago IL]
October 1, 2026
BOSTON, MA, October 01, 2026 – A report released by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office has exposed decades-long systemic failures, institutional concealment and ongoing lapses in oversight, revealing that more than 270 Catholic clerics abused nearly 1,000 children across the three dioceses.
Launched in 2019, the investigation into child sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield and Worcester thoroughly reviewed every individual allegation alongside how diocesan leaders responded.
“We are deeply grateful to the courageous survivors who came forward to share their traumatic experiences with our office and made their voices heard in the pursuit of truth and accountability,” said Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell.
The report demonstrates that rather than ensuring the safety, physical wellbeing and mental health of vulnerable children, diocesan leaders consistently prioritized protecting institutional reputation and offending clergy instead.
“No institution should ever put its own interests above the safety and wellbeing of its children,” said SNAP Executive Director Angela Walker. “We are appalled that survivors have had so long to wait for their voices to be heard.”
Despite damning evidence in the AG’s report released Wednesday, the Worcester Diocese continues to withhold the names of credibly accused clergy. It is the only diocese in Massachusetts that does not maintain a publicly accessible list. SNAP calls for increased transparency and a full accounting, both for those harming children and those who permit the cycle of abuse to continue by protecting the abusers.
“Break down the barriers protecting the abusers,” Walker said. “Nothing should hinder our pursuit of truth and accountability.
SNAP further agrees with the AG recommendations for increased protections for children, including legislative measures to:
- Eliminate the $20,000 Charitable Immunity Cap: Reform civil liability laws to remove the statutory cap on civil damages in cases involving child sexual abuse.
- Eliminate the Statute of Limitations: Remove time restrictions on filing civil child sexual abuse claims.
- Establish an Indefinite Lookback Period: Create a civil window allowing survivors whose claims have expired under prior statutes of limitations to seek legal redress.
- Maintain Public Credibly Accused Lists: Require all dioceses to maintain complete, transparent and publicly accessible lists of credibly accused clergy.
- Enhance Supervision & Professional Investigations: Mandate independent oversight, strict monitoring of restricted clergy and formal Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with law enforcement.
- Increase Whistleblower & Victim Protections: Affirmately release survivors from historical non-disclosure agreements and establish robust protections for individuals reporting misconduct.
“It is time to make sure every single survivor in Massachusetts, and across our nation, receives the justice they deserve,” Walker said.
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Catholic clergy sexually abused nearly 1,000 Massachusetts children over decades, report finds
Read the full AG report here.