Massachusetts clergy abused nearly 1,000 children over decades, state report finds

• Over 270 Catholic clerics sexually abused nearly 1,000 children in Massachusetts over decades.
• The report covers the Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester dioceses.
• Most abuse occurred before 2002, and church officials were aware but did not prevent it.
• An eight-year investigation did not yield new indictments due to legal limitations and expired statutes of limitations.
• Three cases were referred to district attorneys, leading to one criminal charge.

A comprehensive report released Wednesday by the Massachusetts attorney general's office has detailed decades of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, affecting nearly 1,000 children across three dioceses. The eight-year investigation found that over 270 clerics were implicated in the abuse, with the majority of incidents occurring before 2002. The report specifically highlighted institutional failures within the Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester dioceses, stating that church officials were aware of the abuse but did not take effective action to prevent it or address leadership failures. Despite the extensive findings, the attorney general's office noted that no new indictments were brought forward. This was attributed to legal constraints, including conduct that was not considered a crime at the time of occurrence and expired statutes of limitations. However, three cases were referred to different district attorney's offices, resulting in criminal charges in one instance. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell emphasized the profound impact on survivors, stating that "Behind every one of those numbers is a child whose safety was violated, a family that was changed forever and a survivor who carried that abuse for years." She expressed hope that the public release of the findings would be a step toward truth, accountability, and healing. The diocese of Worcester was the only one of the three to issue a statement, indicating they would study the report to identify further improvements in responding to victims and ensuring child safety. The diocese also pointed to a 2022 apology from Bishop Robert J McManus regarding the abuse of minors by priests within his diocese.