Fr. James R. Porter

Ordained in 1960 for the Diocese of Fall River, MA. The Diocese knew shortly after ordination of complaints against Porter. He was kept in ministry, and transferred to new parish assignments multiple times. In and out of treatment. First time was at a hospital in Wellesley MA in 1965. Reassigned to a New Bedford MA parish, then to a Stoneham MA parish in the Boston archdiocese in 1967. Sent in 1967 to the Paracletes in Jemez Springs, NM, then assigned to a parish in Houston TX. Returned after an incident to the Paracletes. Was also allowed parish work in NV. Sent in 1969 to treatment at a Paracletes’ facility in Nevis, MN; allowed to work as a fill-in priest in the Dioceses of Duluth and Crookston. Assigned in late 1969 to a parish in Bemidji, MN where he was accused of abusing a boy in 1970. Returned to the Paracletes, this time in St. Louis MO. Went on leave of absence, lived in MN. Laicized in 1974. Married in 1976 and had four children. Worked at a bank. Tutored children at a parish in the St. Paul and Minneapolis archdiocese 1982-1991. In 1990 a former MA altar boy sexually abused by Porter in the 1960s confronted him; the case received wide publicity and Porter admitted to abusing 50-100 children. Porter has been named in multiple civil suits in MA and MN for abuse in the 1960s and early 1970s. Accused of abusing 100s of children, boys and girls, in MA, NM, Crookston MN and TX. Found guilty in MN in 1992 of molesting a babysitter. Served 4 months. Conviction overturned by MN Supreme Court. Pleaded guilty in 1993 in MA to abusing 28 children. Sentenced to 18-20 years. Over 100 claims settled. Died in 2/2005 of cancer while awaiting release from prison. A woman filed suit in MN in 6/2013. Porter’s name was included in 10/2023 on the St. Paul and Minneapolis archdiocese’s list of accused. A lawsuit filed was in 1/2015 claiming rape of a former NM altar boy; the plaintiff also claimed rape by Fr. Bernard Bissonette. On the Santa Fe archdiocese’s list 9/12/2017. On Las Vegas diocese’s list 4/12/2019. On Las Cruces list 6/24/2019. Per a 5/2019 proof of claim in the Santa Fe archdiocese’s bankruptcy, Porter sexually abused a boy, age 11-12, in summer 1969. On the Fall River diocese’s list in 1/2021. Settlement announced in 10/2023 with a 70-year-old man who claimed abuse, including sodomy, at age 8 in MA by Porter. Included on the Duluth diocese’s list in 3/2024, where he was assigned 1969-1970.