Massachusetts Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Claims against Three Priests Settled: Mitchell Garabedian

By Rick Sobey
Boston Herald
September 14, 2020

https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/09/14/massachusetts-clergy-child-sexual-abuse-claims-against-three-priests-settled-mitchell-garabedian/

Attorney Mitchell Garabedian

Clergy child sexual abuse claims against three former Massachusetts priests have been settled, the victims’ lawyer announced on Monday.

Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who specializes in sexual abuse cases, said he settled the clergy sexual abuse claims with the Archdiocese of Boston earlier this year.

The former priests were Fr. Sylvio Ruest, Fr. John Salvucci and Fr. T. Raymond Sullivan, according to the lawyer.

The priests decades ago were assigned to churches in Bellingham, Billerica and Dracut, respectively.

Ruest, who was assigned to Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bellingham, was accused of sexually abusing a boy at least five times in the 1950s. The boy, a parishioner at the church, was about 13 to 14 years old at the time.

The sexual abuse took place inside the church and in the nearby rectory affiliated with the church, Garabedian said. The claim was settled in February in the “high five figures,” Garabedian said.

Salvucci, who was assigned to St. Mary’s Church in Billerica, was accused of sexually abusing a boy at least 20 times in the 1970s. The boy, a parishioner at the church, was about 15 to 17 years old at the time.

The sexual abuse took place in the rectory near the church and in a cabin in New Hampshire, Garabedian said. The claim was settled in February in the “high five figures,” the lawyer said.

Sullivan, who was assigned to St. Therese’s Church in Dracut, was accused of sexually abusing a boy at least twice in the 1970s. The boy, a parishioner at the church, was about 14 years old at the time.

The sexual abuse took place inside the church and in the nearby rectory affiliated with the church, Garabedian said. The claim was settled in January in the “low five figures,” he said.

“By coming forward these courageous clergy sexual abuse victims have empowered themselves, other victims and made the world a safer place for children,” Garabedian said in a statement. “History has taught us that pedophile priests sexually abuse as many children as possible until pedophile priests are stopped because of incarceration or infirmity. It is up to the public to take affirmative action to protect their children when they are in the presence of priests.”

The Archdiocese of Boston does not comment on legal proceedings.