WORCESTER (MA)
WCVB - ABC 5 [Boston MA]
September 30, 2026
By Rhondella Richardson
WORCESTER, Mass. — There is outrage from advocates and survivors in Worcester after the Massachusetts attorney general released a report detailing a lengthy investigation into child sexual abuse across three Catholic dioceses.
The archdioceses in Worcester, Springfield and Fall River were named in the report, which did not include the Archdiocese of Boston, which was the subject of a 91-page report issued by the office in 2003.
Some advocates and survivors were unaware that Worcester refused to share the names of priests accused in the investigation.
Parishioners leaving St. Paul’s Cathedral said they were split on whether they have faith that the diocese is protecting its children more than sexually abusive priests.
One Worcester woman claimed that when she was 10 years old, a nun abused her.
“She sexually abused me,” Edna Wallace said. “She locked me in a room. She wanted to do me whenever she wanted to.”
“The diocese of Worcester will not list accused priests; they just refuse to,” said attorney Mitchell Garabedian. “The change is going to come from the outside, from the statute of limitations being amended.”
Both the diocese and the attorney general’s report point out that a vast majority of the abuse happened more than 40 to 60 years ago.
In a statement, the Diocese said: “Our procedure over the past three decades, including the way we screen candidates for ordination, as well as the awareness and safety training which was implemented, has made a huge difference.”
Garabedian said that six survivors he has worked with committed suicide before their cases moved forward.
Any survivors looking to seek support or resources can contact the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, to learn more.