Nearly 950 children victimized by Catholic clergy in Worcester, Springfield, and Fall River dioceses, AG report finds

The Attorney General’s office has released a comprehensive report revealing that 944 children were sexually abused by 275 Catholic clergy across the Worcester, Springfield, and Fall River dioceses. The findings mark the first state-level investigation into the historical patterns of abuse within these three dioceses, highlighting a prolonged failure to protect vulnerable children and address allegations of misconduct.

The report, spanning 203 pages, details a systemic culture of cover-ups and inadequate responses to abuse allegations over more than 70 years. Attorney General Andrea Campbell emphasized the profound and lasting impact of these abuses, noting that each survivor carries the trauma of their experience, often for decades. The report includes specific cases, such as a priest taking semi-nude photographs of a boy in a pool locker room and another priest failing to intervene when he witnessed another priest raping a child.

Survivors shared accounts of the severe physical and emotional consequences of their abuse, including trust issues, anger, addiction, and suicidal thoughts. One survivor described how the abuse shattered their understanding of and trust in a loving God, while another expressed deep disillusionment with the Church’s role in the abuse. These testimonies underscore the long-term psychological and spiritual damage inflicted by the perpetrators.

The majority of the abuse occurred before 2002, when the Boston Globe’s Spotlight investigation exposed widespread child sex abuse within the Catholic Church, prompting legislative reforms and institutional changes. Despite these reforms, the report indicates that many dioceses continued to fail in their duty to protect children. Each diocese had approximately 90 clergy members accused of child sex abuse, though the number of survivors varied significantly.

The Diocese of Worcester reported 216 survivors, Springfield had 259, and Fall River had the highest number at 469. However, the report acknowledges that the true number of survivors and perpetrators may be even higher due to missing records and the reluctance of some individuals to come forward. Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha of the Diocese of Fall River expressed concern over the findings, though his full statement was not included in the report.

Source: Read the original report