Message from Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell
For too long, survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Massachusetts have carried the devastating consequences of what was done to them, often in silence. Today, the Attorney General’s Office is releasing the findings of its multi-year investigation to acknowledge the truth, honor survivors, and confront the systemic failures that allowed abuse to occur, and, in some cases, continue for many years.
Our investigation found evidence that more than 270 Catholic clerics abused nearly 1,000 children over the course of a century in the Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester. While previous investigations and public reporting exposed widespread abuse and institutional failures in the Archdiocese of Boston, this is the first comparable public accounting of what occurred in these three dioceses.
Since 2019, our attorneys and investigators reviewed more than 300,000 pages of documents and interviewed more than 100 individuals, including survivors, advocates, attorneys representing survivors, clergy, diocesan personnel, and experts in canon law and child sexual abuse. We examined not only individual allegations of abuse, but how diocesan leaders responded when allegations were made, whether their own policies were followed, and whether children were adequately protected.
Throughout this investigation, our Office remained focused on three goals: telling the truth about what happened, seeking criminal accountability wherever the law allows, and identifying what still must change to better protect children and support survivors.
What we found was deeply troubling. Over decades, diocesan leaders failed to adequately respond to allegations and warning signs; transferred accused and offending priests to other parishes without disclosing the reasons for those transfers; returned priests to ministry following treatment without adequate supervision; failed to meaningfully enforce restrictions; concealed the reasons priests were removed from ministry; and failed to consistently report allegations to law enforcement.
We deeply understand that behind every number is a child whose safety was violated, a family that was changed, and a survivor who has carried the trauma of that abuse for years, and in many cases, decades.
To the survivors who came forward: THANK YOU. I am beyond grateful for your courage and willingness to speak with us about deeply traumatic events. Your words shed light on events that long remained hidden in the dark and were essential to the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of this investigation. I am also thankful for your patience as we undertook the work to ensure this report was publicly released.
Our victim witness advocates worked closely with survivors throughout every step of this process, and many survivors courageously provided written accounts of what they endured as children. Their powerful statements are included in an appendix to this report, in their own words.
This investigation was not simply about documenting what happened in the past. Survivors and their attorneys repeatedly shared with us how extraordinarily difficult it can be to obtain accountability and justice – whether through criminal prosecution, civil litigation, or the Church itself.
Our Office carefully examined whether criminal prosecution remained possible. Some conduct was not a crime under Massachusetts law at the time it occurred and cannot be prosecuted retroactively. Other misconduct newly-identified by this investigation occurred outside the applicable statute of limitations. Sadly, these legal limitations mean that our Office is unable to seek criminal charges, and there were no new indictments arising from this investigation. However, these legal limitations do not diminish the seriousness of the conduct documented in this report.
Criminal prosecution is an important tool for holding individual perpetrators accountable, but civil liability can also play a critical role in addressing the systemic failures that allowed abuse to occur and continue, and in providing survivors with meaningful remedies for the harm they experienced.
Yet, Massachusetts law continues to create significant barriers. Survivors may be prevented from bringing claims by the statute of limitations, despite the reality that childhood sexual abuse is often disclosed years or decades later. The Commonwealth’s charitable immunity cap remains at $20,000 — unchanged since 1971 — and, survivors whose claims have already expired have no opportunity to seek relief.
For these reasons, the Attorney General’s Office supports the passage of legislation that would eliminate the statute of limitations for civil claims involving childhood sexual abuse, eliminate the charitable immunity cap for any claims of childhood sexual abuse, and create an indefinite lookback period for civil claims of childhood sexual abuse so survivors whose claims have expired have an opportunity to seek justice.
But accountability cannot come from the courts or Legislature alone. The Church itself holds an even more significant role. The report provides specific recommendations for the dioceses, including how to: apply a trauma-informed approach to its reviews and investigations while putting survivors first; adequately report and investigate allegations of child sexual abuse; enforce restrictions on accused and offending priests; and provide greater transparency to the complainant and the community about what was known and what was done to respond to allegations of abuse.
I strongly urge the dioceses and the broader Church to take these recommendations seriously and implement greater, meaningful changes to strengthen child protection and improve responses to allegations of abuse.
As a woman of deep faith, it is my prayer and profound hope that this report honors the courage and stories of survivors, acknowledges the action of all stakeholders who previously came forward to address these heartbreaking accounts of abuse, and serves as a renewed catalyst for Massachusetts to finally do all that is necessary to ensure the safety of our children. No institution should ever put its own reputation and interest above the safety and wellbeing of its constituents, especially children.
With tremendous gratitude,
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell
Resources
Massachusetts Children’s Alliance
This website provides a list of all Massachusetts Children’s Advocacy Centers throughout the state where survivors can report child sexual abuse in the county where it occurred. Child Advocacy Centers also provide additional resources for survivors.
Bishop Accountability
Website with searchable data of clergy members who were accused of sexual abuse and documents relating to the abuse.
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)
A national advocacy organization that supports and promotes healing to survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
Voice of the Faithful
Advocates for transparency, accountability, and change within the Catholic Church.
I Survive
Survivor-led organization that provides support, healing, and resources for individuals healing from sexual abuse.
Taking Back Ourselves
A survivor-centered support and advocacy group focused on empowering individuals affected by clergy sexual abuse through education and community support.
Male Survivor
A nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting boys and men who have experienced sexual abuse, offering recovery resources, peer support, and professional training.
1 in 6
A national nonprofit organization that provides resources and confidential online support groups for men who have experienced sexual abuse.
Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline (RAINN)
Provides national 24/7 support and can connect you to local Massachusetts centers.
Mass 2-1-1
A free, 24/7 service that provides referrals for local community resources, including crisis intervention and support groups.
988 Lifeline
A free, confidential service, available 24/7 in the United States. Provides immediate support and crisis intervention for individuals experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts.
Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance
AskMOVA is a free online resource that allows victims, survivors, and service providers to find free services in an area that is convenient, accessible, and safe for the victim or survivor.
Disaster Distress Helpline for Immediate Crisis Counseling | SAMHSA
Call/text 1-800-985-5990
The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the first national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
NAMI HelpLine | NAMI
800-950-6264
The NAMI HelpLine is a free, confidential nationwide service that provides one-on-one emotional support, mental health information and resources needed to tackle tough challenges that you, your family or friends are facing.