Massachusetts Attorney General reveals abuse of nearly 1,000 children by 270 clerics

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell released a report on September 30 finding that more than 270 Catholic clerics abused nearly 1,000 children over a century. The investigation covered the Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester.

The report states that diocesan leaders often transferred accused priests to different parishes and did not consistently report allegations to law enforcement. Campbell noted that leaders in these three dioceses failed to respond to abuse allegations over the years. The findings suggest a culture of reverence and indulgence toward priests contributed to the abuse, noting that around mid-century, priests were viewed as holy, which allowed them easy access to victims.

The inquiry began in 2019 and included interviews with more than 100 people, including victims, and reviewed over 300,000 pages of documentation. This specific report did not cover the Archdiocese of Boston.