Bishop Christopher J. Weldon

Ordained for the Archdiocese of New York. Bishop of Springfield MA 1950-1977. Accused of knowing of many abusers in the diocese. Died in 1982. Accused in a 2005 lawsuit of sexually abusing boy, ages 11-16. Accuser claimed he was abused by his uncle (Msgr. Page), several other priests, Weldon and another bishop. The accuser was in a TX prison for an unrelated murder when he filed suit. The Diocese said he was 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. The 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 the abuse allegations against Weldon “unequivocally credible.” Added to the Diocese’s list of accused 6/2/2021. Settlement in 5/2023. Accused in a 7/2026 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy, ages 4-5, in 1973 or 1974. The boy was a resident of a Brightside, which was a residential home for children. The suit also claims abuse by Bishop Joseph Maguire.