Bishop Christopher J. Weldon

NY priest. Bishop of Springfield MA 1950-1977. Accused of knowing of many abusers in diocese. Died in 1982. Accused in a 2005 lawsuit of abuse of a boy, ages 11-16. Accuser claimed he was abused by his uncle (Msgr. Page), several other priests, Weldon and another bishop. Accuser was in a TX prison for an unrelated murder when suit filed. Diocese said not credible. In 9/2018 the Diocesan Review Board deemed credible an allegation that Weldon raped a boy, ages 9-11, in the early 1960s. Weldon was assigned at the time to St. Anne’s in Chicopee MA. The alleged victim said he was also abused by Revs. Edward Authier and Clarence Forand, also deemed credible. Victim sued in 1/2021, claiming Weldon was part of a ring of priests who gang-raped altar boys. Weldon is said to have interfered as bishop in the  investigation into the murder of an altar boy in 1972 by Rev. Richard R. Lavigne. In 6/2020, independent investigator Peter Velis released a report, stating that he found abuse allegations against Weldon “unequivocally credible.” Added to diocese’s list of accused 6/2/2021. Settlement in 5/2023.