Fr. Albert Rene Blanchard
A woman told the Diocese in 1993 that she sought counseling from Blanchard in 1971 at age 15. He was 30. The ‘relationship’ lasted four years. He left the priesthood in 1977, was laicized in 6/1980 and married. In 1993 the woman, the Diocese and Blanchard settled after the review board found the allegations credible. In 2009 she complained after learning that he was working as a volunteer “social worker/spiritual care coordinator” for the diocesan resource group. It took the Diocese a year to remove him. Included on the Diocese’s list of credibly accused in 3/2016. Its list updated in 6/2021 shows his middle name as Rene. Blanchard died 4/20/2023. (His obituary shows him as Albert J. Banchard.)
- Boston Globe 06.06.10
- WWLP 06.07.10
- iobserve 06.09.10
- The Republican 06.10.10
- Catholic Culture 06.15.10
- CBS 3 06.15.10
- WWLP 06.15.10
- Springfield Diocese List of Priests with Credible Allegations 08.30.11
- SNAP 02.10.16
- MassLive 02.11.16
- Diocese of Springfield List updated 06.02.21
- Corridan Funeral Home 04.20.23
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