Fr. George Boxelaar

From Holland. Assigned in the U.S. to the Carmelite Priory in Mantzville PA 1954-1956, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish in Middletown NY and area mission parishes 1956-1957, and again 1962-1985. In 1973 the parents of a 7-year-old altar boy told the Order that Boxelaar had sexually abused their son. Other parents also said that Boxelaar had sexually abused their preadolescent sons. The boys’ parents did not press charges when they learned their sons would have to testify.  The Order received more allegations against Boxelaar in the 1980s. Criminal charges were filed, then dropped in 1985 exchange for Boxelaar’s retirement. He was quietly sent to “a retreat house” in Williamstown MA, then back to Holland. He died in 1990. After news in 2002 of allegations against Boxelaar, at least 25 more men surfaced, saying they, too, were molested by the priest as little boys. The Order acknowledged having received one complaint in the 1970s and five in the 1980s. Three lawsuits filed under the NY Child Victims Act in 2019 claimed abuse of altar boys in the 1970s and 1980s. A suit was filed in 7/2020 by eight men; all said Boxelaar told them the abuse was normal and “in keeping with Dutch customs.” Reportedly in 4/2026 eight more men had filed suit with claims against Boxelaar of sexual abuse from the late 1960s through 1985, and 14 other alleged victims had been identified. Civil trials for the eight cases were planned; the first was scheduled for 5/2026, then paused after the Archdiocese agreed to an $8M dollar settlement with plaintiffs.