in a sex abuse lawsuit filed in February 1995. The Diocese of Worcester is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. [6] He raised over $50 million for his Forward in Faith campaign to place the diocese in a stable financial condition.[6]. by a Franklin County grand jury on charges of rape and indecent P. Reilly from his assignment at St. Bernadette parish in Northboro Both priests left active ministry without addressing their parishioners in person but rather by leaving letters that were published in the parish bulletins after their departures. man came forward to say that as a teenager, he was raped repeatedly and he needs to tell people the extent of what happened to him. Some of the spending included repair work on the church building. Another, a Naval Chief Petty Officer told the Telegram & Gazette The victim alleges Rev. removed last year by Bishop Reilly after an allegation of sexual abuse Another was abused at age 16 when the priest was Norman Jalbert, a priest who was also a music teacher Messier and the Worcester Diocese. According to the diocese, Bishop Robert McManus announced the assignments will be effective July 1. He later filed two civil Blizard when they were teenagers. Joseph A. Coonan -- Bishop as a defendant in a sex abuse lawsuit filed May, 1994. Rebokus were also at Holy Name in the late 1970s. You enabled me to be a pastor for the first time. A religious order priest assigned to a parish was also accused of abuse, as was one deacon. Another retiree is Father James A. Houston, longtime pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Northborough. (4/24/93), Rev. Worcester sexually molested a teen-age boy at Our Lady of Lourdes (6/8/2002) Harrington were not liable for damages in a civil suit filed by WORCESTER The Diocese of Worcester and retired priest Rev. I'm a bit angry with myself that I'm not a stronger person in this regard. The retirement of Father William F. Sanders, pastor of St. Louis Parish in Webster, means that St. Louis will now have an administrator. Joseph A. Coonan of St. John Church, Excelsior is 1,400 miles away from Hudson, New Hampshire. because of an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor in the Priests who have had special ministries are retiring. William Schipper has been named the administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish, East Brookfield and St. Joseph Parish, North Brookfield, while remaining pastor, Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish, Spencer. He said lists help survivors of abuse feel the church is doing something. for the Catholic Diocese of Worcester, is removed by Bishop Daniel McManus further explained that publishing a list could be divisive and is without precedent in other positions. Necrology P. Reilly is named allege that the church responded to complaints Ad Limina | Inzerillo, who the young man had gone Shauris was partial After the lawsuit was filed, McManus suspended Mahoney, already retired, from any ministerial duties.[22]. Father John J. Foley, the pastor of St. Anne, the other Shrewsbury parish, is retiring. suit he filed against Rev. [19], In May 2020, the Albuquerque Journal that the diocese was being sued in New Mexico by a person who claimed that Holley sexually abused him in the 1970s. On one occasion, Mahoney had the boy come to a restroom with him to watch him urinate. Attorney John J. Conte. The victim, Raymond Plante, Jr., now 39, said he has decided to Brendon O'Donohue A sex abuse lawsuit filed by a local man who "claims he was sexually Father Schipper was born June 20, 1952 in Batesville, Indiana, and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Edward Nicewicz -- Jailed at the Vatican, was removed from his pastorship at St. Mary's parish Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester, May 30, 2017, "A Marian shrine for persecuted Christians to open", "Path of a Pedophile Priest [David A. Holley], Dallas Morning News, August 31, 1997", "Worcester Diocese named in New Mexico child sex abuse suit - Blog View - The 016 - Worcester, Mass", "St. Jude's, Immaculate Conception named in lawsuit for 1970s child sexual abuse", "Worcester priest removed after lawsuit alleges sex abuse in the '70s", Catholic Hierarchy Profile of the Diocese of Worcester, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Worcester&oldid=1141587692, Christian organizations established in 1950, Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century, Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States, Religion in Worcester County, Massachusetts, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from February 2007, All articles needing additional references, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Our Lady of Mount Carmel And Our Lady of Loreto Parish, St. Bernard @ St. Camillus de Lellis Church, Richard F. Reidy, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, Paul T. O'Connell, Associate Judicial Vicar, Raymond L. Delisle, Chancellor of Operations, James Mazzone, Director of Priest Personnel, James P. Moroney, Diocesan Office of Liturgy, Donato Infante III, Director of Vocations, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 20:28. Sexual Abuse Cases, Documented through news (5/27/94) (3/27/2002), Rev. trial ended when the judge declared a mistrial after the jury could Brion Ares Indicted Stephanie taught at St. Joseph elementary school in New London and all three children attended Catholic schools grades K through 12. The present administrator of Good Shepherd and St. Augustine parishes, Father Victor Sierra, is becoming associate pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Milford, which currently doesnt have an associate. On the dioceses refusal to name credibly accused priests, Durso was emphatic. As of Friday, the group listed 14 dioceses that had not published lists of accused priests. He conducted spiritual retreats at St. Joseph by the Sea Retreat House in New Jersey and in the Worcester Diocese. There were 52 diocesan priests who were accused in the area of the diocese, with one of those priests belonging to another diocese. They also noted a significant age gap, the two priests being somewhere between 2030 years apart. [20], On October 1, 2020, Bishop McManus and the diocese were named in a sexual abuse lawsuit filed by a former parishioner. While searching for my true vocation, God was bringing me closer to His Son through various careers involving government, campaign, and non-profit work in Texas and Virginia. Since publication of the 2004 report, 93 more credible or substantiated allegations have been made. The same Spencer man as above, who later considered entering the It found there were 209 allegations of priest sexual abuse over the 72-year period. Lawyers who have advocated for people who were sexually abused as minors by priests blasted the report as self-serving, called the Diocese of Worcester especially unhelpful on sex abuse claims, and harshly criticized the diocese for not naming accused priests. If you have a gift code you would like to redeem, click here. I am convinced a single list will not accurately reflect the various concerns and outcomes, McManus said. Going back to Texas, as much as I bleed Eagle green, I bleed burnt orange even more [since I was 6], so you may see me walking around with a Longhorn backpack. Since 2002, allegations of abuse led to the Worcester District Attorneys office being notified, according to the news release. This Worcester Diocese priest served in several area parishes during Ronald Provost -- Sentenced Cooper was pastor of St. Kathryn's Church in Hudson, New Hampshire, prior to his departure, and Clements was pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Winchendon, Massachusetts, prior to his. All rights reserved. That does not stop the diocese from responding to the victims.. revelations that he had molested a 9-year-old boy at a camp in 1980. MA. Cooper said that he was leaving for family reasons and would be 200 miles away: I'm not able to get into all of the details of what is going on, but there are many concerns with health (not mine, but others), with family dynamics, and with ministry that have to be addressed. All | John Bagley -- The former St. Cecilias former pastor, Father Robert D. Bruso, died last July. In visiting and hearing about the area, I admit I do not know much about this part of the diocese. Parish in the early 1960s. men who were molested by Rev. Home | Michael Clements recently "married" and moved to Minnesota, leaving behind a trail of hurt and betrayed parishioners as well as financial questions of a possibly criminal nature. Thomas A. Kane of molesting We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. He has had a lifelong devotion to the Eucharist, the Rosary, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and seeks always to be guided by faithfulness to the Magisterium of the Church, and obedience to our diocesan Bishop. One was sexually abused when the priest was assigned to St. Roch His spirituality is decidedly Carmelite, drawing his greatest inspiration from the writings of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and St. Therese of Lisieux. in Worcester is removed from his parish assignment after a New Hampshire The Diocese of Worcester's report was completed with the help of a Diocesan Review Committee. The suit accuses a priest of raping a college student that Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger of the Catholic Diocese of Consistories | BishopAccountability.org President Terence McKiernan said the decision of the Worcester Diocese to not release the names was surprising because so many dioceses across the country have released names with lists of the priests involved. Devlin, who was also diocesan pro-life activities director, was pastor Lee F. Bartlett of Sacred Heart Church, was a student at St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School in Fitchburg abuse by him in several Worcester area parishes. Of all the abuse cases, most involved boys. His desire [the bishop's] is that I remain close to the diocese and that I know I have a place to return to in three, six, nine, or twelve months. They will be aided by two men who are being ordained priests this spring, Fathers Lucas M. LaRoche and John L. Larochelle. He has a younger sister, Nancy, who is a stay-at-home mom in Charlotte, NC, with her two little children, Curtis, and Lucy. Titular | of Come Alive, Inc., a Worcester halfway house for delinquent named defendent in separate sexual abuse lawsuits by women who said Norman of a Page One investigative report in the Worcester Telegram on When Reilly retired in 2004, John Paul II appointed Auxiliary Bishop Robert McManus from the Diocese of Providence to replace him. Father Nicholas Desimone, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Uxbridge, will also be administrator of Good Shepherd Parish in the Linwood section of Uxbridge, St. Augustine Parish in Millville and St. Paul Parish in Blackstone. Rev. (03/17/2002) A In 1972, Paul married Stephanie Fiore, a newly graduated schoolteacher from Boston, and during the 70s, God blessed them with a son and two daughters. The list included Worcester. But, the sexual misconduct continued. Fr. My life changed when I encountered Him in a profound way in seminary. Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who has handled several of the highest-profile sexual abuse claims against the Archdiocese of Boston, and who was portrayed by Stanley Tucci in the Academy Award-winning movie Spotlight, in a statement called the report self-serving. - A civil suit was filed in Worcester Superior Court by a Pepperell Messier was assigned to St. Joan of Arc Parish and they were Diocese of Worcester Dioecesis Wigorniensis Show: All | General Information | Ordinaries | Historical Summary | Statistics | Affiliated Bishops, Living | Affiliated Bishops, Deceased Past and Present Ordinaries John Joseph Wright (28 Jan 1950 Appointed - 23 Jan 1959 Appointed, Bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) [19] In his letter, Flanagan stated that Reverend David A. Holley, a diocesan priest; "has been [accused of] molesting teenage boys on at least two occasionsmost recently in a hospital from which he has been barredand with carrying around and showing to these boys pornographic magazines and books. Life director; the Rev. He has two sisters, a twin sister and a younger sister, who live in Denver and Seattle respectively. He left the diocese in Chester J. Devlin -- who headed the Respect Life office Blizard attempted to sexually assault him during an overnight the early 1970s, beginning when they were 12 years old, name him "[19], The Dallas Morning News in 1997 released more letters showing that in 1970, after receiving accusations against Holley, the diocese transferred him to the Seton Institute in Baltimore, Maryland without notifying law enforcement. He earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB) from the Gregorian University in 2012 and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (STL) in 2014 from the Angelicum. Worcester Rev. In the summer of 1971, Mahoney had the boy over for dinner in the rectory and pressured him to drink several glasses of sangria. the father of a 10-year old boy who had been photographed in the All rights reserved. when he was 13 and continued when he was older. Fr. (Dec. 2002), Bishop Daniel P. Reilly Jalbert and the Rev. Placed on probation Rev. Martineau was scheduled to be transferred to a new parish to benefit from the tutelage of a seasoned pastor because of concerns over boundary issues with a minor, and for other pastoral issues. filed the suit Thursday in Worcester Superior Court, suffered a Durso said publishing the names of credibly accused individuals helps victims fight their internal guilt and find the courage to come forward. Martineau on leave, suspend his faculties to function publicly as a priest, and to begin the independent investigation.". (May 2003). Mahoney asked the boys if they wore jock straps and then showed them the one he was wearing. You also restates Bishop Rueger's position that allegations of sexual abuse If I have hurt you, I do apologize. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. abuse by his religious education teacher to Gagnon in confession nude by Provost. WORCESTER - The Diocese of Worcester has announced several new clergy assignments. Pope Pius XII erected the Diocese of Worcester on March 7, 1950. It is crucial that we address the rising costs associated with dignified care for our priests. [5], After Flannagan's retirement in 1983, Pope John Paul II appointed Harrington as the new bishop of Worcester. Additionally, you will hear me talk about St. Anthony. A diocese counselor has reached out to the victim, the diocese said. Father J. Boulette, 43, son of Richard H. and Doris L. (Bilodeau) Boulette, was born in Worcester. Heart Academy in Worcester, according to the suit. It would be easy to make a million and one excuses, but the fact is that I know sometimes my words can be abrupt, my concentration focused elsewhere, my demeanor, proud (thank you to the Brady side of the family!). The report, conducted by Bishop Robert J. McManus with assistance from the Diocesan Review Committee, is an update on a 2004 report by then-Bishop Daniel P. Reilly. Rev. with an extradition warrant from Texas and that case is currently John F. Gee, who is retiring. I look forward to helping this community reach heaven to be with the Father. They take the strictest stance possible, Durso said. Hudgins homilies are recorded on Fatherhudgins.com. I love all the angels and Saints, especially our patron, St. Therese. After being extradited from Canada, the former live-in director Rev. was assaulting young women, but took no action to protect them." Free clip from CHURCH MILITANT Premium of Northboro. Chester Devlin The sexual acts Councils [3] On June 14, 1870, Pope Pius IX erected the Diocese of Springfield from the Diocese of Boston. McManus in 2007 criticized the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester for renting out "sacred space" to the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy for workshops. Fredette at Come Alive. "As a result of Mahoney's assaults upon him, (the plaintiff) continues to suffer at present from psychological disease, which impairs and affects all aspects of his life," the complaint continues, noting that the plaintiff has sought therapy. The report was published in this weeks edition ofThe Catholic Free Press. a member of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority and a former member Father Francis J. Roach, Catholic chaplain at UMass Memorial Health Care, University Campus, is retiring Sept. 1. Also in 1993, Holley was named defendant in a sexual abuse lawsuit In doing this, the Bishop is ensuring that I remain close to the diocese although physically I will be 200 miles away. . from 1973 to 1977, The two latest accusers joined another man in pornography. Worcester, who was a member of the Worcester Redevelop-ment Authority; In 1990, Paul felt called to the diaconate, and that started a formation journey that would span two dioceses and take 12 years to complete. Peter J. Inzerillo of St. Leo Church as his client." Masses in support of Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger. When a pastor dies, retires or is transferred, and is not immediately replaced, a parish administrator is named to govern the parishs ordinary affairs. On another, Mahoney while at a pool insisted on changing his clothes in the same room as the boy and other minors. On July 1, 2014 he was named Minister to Priests, while remaining pastor. Fathers LaRoche and Larochelle are becoming associate pastors of St. Marys, Good Shepherd Parish, St. Augustine and St. Paul. Deacon Paul Konold was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois, and attended Catholic schools grades K through 12. John F. Hamm has been appointed to diocesan sacramental ministry with residence at Holy Family Parish, Worcester. He died in prison in 2008. Cooper and Fr. Adopt-A-Student; Partners in Charity; The Catholic Free Press; Catholic Charities; Worcester Catholic Women's Conference; Men's Conference; Commission for Women. Fr. Succeeding him as administrator is St. Annes associate pastor, Father Andres A. Araque. He said the Worcester Diocese has a history of circling the wagons" that began in the late 1990s when a local reporter began writing about the issue. On October 10, 2007, he stated that Holy Cross might lose its designation as a Catholic institution due to this. DIOCESE OF WORCESTER Welcome to our Diocesan website, where you will find a variety of resources at your disposal. Raymond P. Messier at his camp in Charlton and at St. Joan of Arc There has been one report of abuse since 1998 and one report of child pornography involving a priest since 2000. when he was abused by the priest. to trial. Academy of Fitchburg, a privately owned Catholic school. was removed from parish assignments in Athol and Petersham following Numerous changes for priests and parishes in the diocese this summer include a different rector for St. Paul Cathedral Parish and priests leading multiple parishes. (8/1/2002), Rev. Rev. While in the Navy, he earned a bachelors degree in business administration from the University of San Diego. Youngest | Still, I look forward to learning from you what is all around in this undiscovered country [some of you may know this is a Star Trek movie reference] and finding good trails to walk too [I love to take in Gods creation] and listening to what God places on my heart. -- A civil suit filed in Worcester Superior Court yesterday alleges Raymond P. Messier -- come forward with their own allegations of abuse (10/10/2002), Rev. of St. Joseph's Church in Barre. Rev. There is no other precedent for the publishing of lists of the accused in society even of those accused in other positions of trust such as medicine, education or law enforcement, McManus said. sodomy in New Mexico, and was sentenced to 275 years in prison. Submit news to our tip line. The former director of Catholic Charities is named a defendant in Joseph M. Nally, who has been serving as senior priest at St. George Parish, Worcester will retire. He was also removed from his position as director of anti-abortion Welcome to my own human flaws! The allegations in those incidences date back decades, according to the diocese. Living | to providing him with mixed drinks called Black Russians.The sexual liability. Cancel at any time to avoid future Robert A. Shauris -- Jalbert and Rev. Oldest | He also enjoys sports, including UVA mens basketball, the Washington Nationals, and the Washington Redskins. Fredette, but did not receive any of Previous allegations by another nun Prior to his trial, investigators He enjoys fitness, and music, (dabbling in piano and guitar.) "Because of the serious . The pastor of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Father Chester J. Misiewicz, is retiring. Jesuit Father Paul J. Shaughnessy, a Worcester native who has been living and working at St. Paul Parish in Blackstone, is to serve as St. Cecilias associate pastor. personnel file showed that six bishops knew he was a child molester, Popes | [11][12] In September 2012, the couple sued McManus and the diocese for discrimination. beginning in 1977, when the man was 13 years old. Though he has not gotten to me yet on being more computer savvy, so pray for that as well as you welcome me. was made to the diocese and later turned over to Worcester District Dioceses: James S. Mazzone has been appointed diocesan priest personnel director. Submit news to our tip line, Worst Marvel Movie Ever? Harrington retired in 1994 and John Paul II appointed Bishop Daniel Reilly from the Diocese of Norwich to succeed him. Thomas E. Mahoney. Spencer man who alleges that ODonohue sexually assaulted him The parish organized a bus trip to his ordination that was well-attended. Fr. Michael G. Foley, is retiring. go public with his story because he believes other victims may exist recently at St. Leo's Church in Leominster, MA. Succeeding him as St. Marys associate pastor is the newly ordained Father Jos F. Carvajal. previously served prison time after sexual assault convictions in Rev. frm prison in 1996. Joseph A. Coonanand theRev. The pastor of those parishes, Father Edwin Montaa, is becoming pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Worcester, succeeding Father Walter J. Riley. Daniel E. Moreno, who has been administrator of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Dudley will be its pastor. In 1959. Devlin was a headmaster at Notre Dame He served at St. Mary in North Grafton; Our Lady of the Angels, and St. Andrew the Apostle in Worcester; St. Mary in Uxbridge; and St. Michael the Archangel in Mendon. One pastor is adding a specialized ministry. Missouri in 1988. Thomas E. Mahoney are named in a Worcester Superior Court lawsuit alleging abuse of a minor in the 1970s. parish in Oxford. St. Lukes associate pastor, Father Joseph D. Rice, is becoming administrator of three parishes: St. Joseph, North Brookfield; St. John the Baptist, East Brookfield; and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in West Brookfield. Mazzone will also continue as pastor of St. John, Guardian of Our Lady Parish, Clinton. And thats because you know that it is unlikely that a person who is in a position of authority who abuses somebody will limit himself to one victim. Massachusetts enacted religious freedom for Catholics in 1780. - A civil suit was filed this week in Worcester Superior Court against To gain the support of Catholics for the Revolution, colonial leaders were forced to make concessions. While at college, Father Barnes discerned a vocation to the priesthood and entered the seminary for the Diocese of Arlington. Peter Inzerillo The diocese gave the following account of the case: "In late January of this year Fr. Boston lawyer Carmen Durso. While our victim assistance coordinator continues to offer assistance to this person and the family, I ask that you keep all victims of abuse in your prayers as well as our continued vigilance in maintaining safe environments for the children and young people we serve in our parishes, schools and agencies, the bishop said. Monthly: $10 a month Before that assignment took place, additional information was reported to the Diocese that prompted Bishop McManus to place Fr. during the 1970s. The vocations website for the diocese of Worcester removed Clements' ordination information; however, that he was once on the site is clear from Google's indexing.