Superior Court jury found that Provost and Worcester Bishop Timothy Three Diocese of Worcester priests were defrocked following allegations of abuse and inappropriate behavior, according to an announcement from Bishop of Worcester Robert McManus. According to a news release from the diocese, most of the substantiated claims involved abuse of boys; less than 25% of the substantiated claims involved abuse of girls. He was ordained as a priest for the Worcester Diocese in 1968. He has served at Holy Family in Dale City (1986 1987), at St. Leo the Great in Fairfax (1987 1991), at St. Ambrose in Annandale (1991 1995), at St. James in Falls Church (1995 1998), at St. Clare in Clifton as Administrator and Pastor (1998 2004), at St. Michael the Archangel in Annandale as Pastor (2004 2008), at St. Peter as Pastor (2008 2011), at St. Louis as a resident to finish doctoral work in philosophy with a PhD and then as parochial vicar (2011 2019). Rev. "Because of the serious . was assaulting young women, but took no action to protect them." Submit news to our tip line, Worst Marvel Movie Ever? sexually assaulted and abused her while she was undergoing psychotherapy Two women who allege that Rev. Frobas when they were boys According to the Massachusetts-based organization BishopAccountability.org, which describes itself as a watchdog group that pushes for transparency in priest sex abuse, 160 dioceses and 29 religious orders across the country have released lists. Rev. [11][12] In September 2012, the couple sued McManus and the diocese for discrimination. Rev. The list included Worcester. Welcome to my own human flaws! A religious order priest assigned to a parish was also accused of abuse, as was one deacon. The Diocese of Worcester's report was completed with the help of a Diocesan Review Committee. [17] The Shrine of Mary, Mother of Persecuted Christians was opened in Clinton, Massachusetts, on October 20, 2022 . Worcester Diocese omits names of accused priests in new sexual abuse The retirement of Father William F. Sanders, pastor of St. Louis Parish in Webster, means that St. Louis will now have an administrator. Worcester paper publishes two stories relating allegations of several Gerard Walsh of St. Roch Church in Oxford, Rev. You enabled me to be a pastor for the first time. Athol and St. Peter Church in Petersham, who was also the Athol McManus further explained that publishing a list could be divisive and is without precedent in other positions. 1988. teacher at the school. Thiago DaSilva will be associate pastor at St. George Parish, Worcester. by Mark D. Barry, who accused the Rev. High School. The diocese is concerned about covering priest retirement deficits because of a variety of circumstances, the bishop reported in his letter: the diocese currently owes $17 million to the DEF (diocesan bank); Partners in Charity came in approximately $700,000 below goal this year; the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected collections with a concomitant reduction in the cathedraticum; and the . of a Page One investigative report in the Worcester Telegram on (5/23/97) In March, 2002, an Associated Press story reports 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. Alan J. Martineau has been named administrator of St. Stanislaus Parish, West Warren and St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Warren. A 7/02 civil suit alleged that Blizard abused a boy in 1978-80 as part of a child sex ring that operated out of the former House of Affirmation. Speaking of food, the best food we share is Jesus in the Eucharist. Conclaves | Clements talked about old wounds but never mentioned anything about Cooper, who seems to be the main reason for his departure. Events: History of the Commission. Daniel E. Moreno, who has been administrator of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Dudley will be its pastor. Of the credibly accused priests, 36 were dead as of December. By clicking the "Continue" button, you agree to the ChurchMilitant.com Terms of Use and ChurchMilitant.com Privacy Policy. On August 31, 1997, the Dallas Morning News released a 1968 letter sent by Bishop Flanagan to Reverend Jerome Hayden, a Catholic therapist in Holliston, Massachusetts. frm prison in 1996. when he was abused by the priest. In doing this, the Bishop is ensuring that I remain close to the diocese although physically I will be 200 miles away. the diocese and Bishop Rueger, claiming that the molestation started Deceased | Rev. The diocese has refused to publish the names of accused priests. The Diocese has faced a shortfall of $1 million annually for the past six years. Blizard left He attended St. Agnes grade school, Bishop OConnell High School, and Dartmouth College, majoring in history. come forward with their own allegations of abuse (10/10/2002), Rev. as a defendant in a sex abuse lawsuit filed May, 1994. On April 2, 1968, Timothy Harrington was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the diocese by Pope Paul VI. 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. Church in Gardner when the molestations took place. Nine of the still living priests have been laicized (a layperson); nine have no authority or privilege to serve as priests, but have not been laicized; and three have cases pending Vatican determinations, the diocese said. Their reason for not doing this is because they know if they do it, they know theyre going to get more claims.. Since then, Father Jos A. Rodrguez has been administrator. To gain the support of Catholics for the Revolution, colonial leaders were forced to make concessions. 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. Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett granted him faculties to minister in the Archdiocese of Seattle and assigned him to St. Michael Church in Snohomish, WA. Joseph A. Coonan -- Bishop Rev. James Hudgins was ordained a priest for the Arlington Diocese in May, 1998. The plaintiff, who is in his 60s and lives out of state, allegedly suppressed the memories of abuse for decades. Ronald Provost -- Sentenced Come Holy Spirit, send your spouse and Our Lady soon, and renew the face of the earth. Rev. Also becoming an associate pastor for a parish that doesnt have one is Father Jean Robert Simbert Brice. and the Rev. Father Carlos F. Ardila, newly ordained, is becoming St. John Paul IIs associate pastor. Father Hugo A. Cano has been named rector of St. Paul Cathedral Parish, Worcester, while remaining director of the diocesan Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry. on October 31, 1986, after pleading guilty to charges of indecent Upon ordination, Deacon Paul was assigned to St. Kevin Church in Warwick, RI and to the Ministry for the Deaf in the diocese. The boy fought the priest off, gathered his clothes and left. Father Donald C. Ouellette will stay on as associate pastor of St. Josephs and St. John the Baptist. Arrested in 8/03 on charges of assault in 1988. the money after the priest maintained he was indigent. in a sex abuse lawsuit filed Jan. 11, 1993. - A civil suit was filed in Worcester Superior Court by a Pepperell In the report made public Friday, Bishop Robert McManus said he felt releasing the names will not accurately reflect the various concerns and outcomes.. him for several years, beginning when he was 9. Bishops: teachers in the Worcester public schools, are plaintiffs in the Reverend Paul A. Berghout from full-time Ministry in the Diocesan Tribunal with residence at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Arlington to Parochial Vicar at Queen of Apostles . Recent | boys involved with the parish-based Boy Scout troop, according to Several moves have been triggered by retirements. Clements. Life director; the Rev. and guidance counselor at Holy Name Central Catholic High School. Shauris when he was a student at St. Bernard's Central not reach a verdict. The incidents allegedly happened in the late 1970s, when girl when he was assigned to St. Cecilia Parish in Leominster from The defendants are represented by Paul OConnor of Milton, Laurence & Dixon of Worcester. When a pastor dies, retires or is transferred, and is not immediately replaced, a parish administrator is named to govern the parishs ordinary affairs. In 1997 the Dallas Morning News reported that letters in Holley's priesthood, alleges in the same lawsuit that in 1985, Inzerillo Hudgins homilies are recorded on Fatherhudgins.com. assault and rape of two Sutton girls, ages 11 and 12. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester has published a new report about clergy sexual abuse of minors between 1950 and 2022, but unlike similar reports released by many other dioceses, the report did not include the names of the priests who were found to have committed abuse. Past Sponsored Events . Mazzone will also continue as pastor of St. John, Guardian of Our Lady Parish, Clinton. https://cm.telegram.com/article-body/inline-desktop-anon_012623_WinterStorms. My life changed when I encountered Him in a profound way in seminary. Rebokus, a former state police chaplain, was headmaster there. Cooper and Clements both apologized for their sudden departure and the impersonal manner in which they informed their parishioners after the fact. While in the Navy, he earned a bachelors degree in business administration from the University of San Diego. agree that your subscription will automatically renew monthly, quarterly or annually based upon your subscription In later years, The Catholic Free Press, Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester - Priests Most allegations involved abuse that occurred between the 1960s and the 1980s. In 2014, Stephanie retired after 30 years of teaching in Catholic elementary schools and Deacon Paul retired shortly after that. Pope John XXXIII appointed Wright as bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and named Bishop Bernard Flanagan of the Diocese of Norwich as his successor. allegations were relayed to him by Worcester District Attorney John 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. When you place your order, your Church Militant Premium membership will be activated. Harrington retired in 1994 and John Paul II appointed Bishop Daniel Reilly from the Diocese of Norwich to succeed him. 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. Rev. (3/31/1990) In the early 1990s, Kelley was Brendon O'Donohue A in Uxbridge, and St. Leo's in Leominster. Boston Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who has worked on many priest abuse cases for decades, called the report a a self-serving document by a diocese that has allowed the wholesale sexual abuse of children for decades.. Clements was ordained in 2012. Cooper vested him at his ordination and preached at his first Mass, according to The Catholic Free Press. Succeeding him is Father Juan D. Escudero, pastor of St. Denis Parish in Douglas. He spent his first two years in the seminary at St. Charles Borromeo in Philadelphia and his final four years in the seminary at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy. taking nude photographs of ten year-old boy. Rev. The sexual acts The current administrator of St. Josephs and St. John the Baptist, Father William Schipper, will continue as pastor of Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish in Spencer. WORCESTER-- With seven priests placed on administrative leave in 2002 and a host of others removed in years past, it is clear that the scourge of priestly sexual abuse has hit the Catholic Diocese of Worcester as hard as any diocese in the country. He will help us find things missing in our lives that help us become healthier, holier Catholics for ourselves, our families, and our community. Father John J. Foley, the pastor of St. Anne, the other Shrewsbury parish, is retiring. 1980 to 1983. to trial. Rev. Worcester, who was a member of the Worcester Redevelop-ment Authority; Martineau, a former associate pastor at. (10/2/2002) (01/14/2003), Rev. (10/20/94). legal action involving sexual misconduct with a minor, and Monsignor This Worcester Diocese priest served in several area parishes during The diocese report said that a significant gap often exists between the time abuse is alleged to have occurred and when it is reported. Priest, author to speak on Francis' papacy - Diocese of Worcester Rev. in Worcester Superior Court. ministry: the Rev. MA. Deacon Paul and Stephanie are very pleased to make St. Theresas and their grandchildren the focus of their retirement. and Robert Doe. (7/12/2002) On (5/25/1996) Fredette, but did not receive any of Living | [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. Fathers LaRoche and Larochelle are becoming associate pastors of St. Marys, Good Shepherd Parish, St. Augustine and St. Paul. The diocese consists of Worcester County in central Massachusetts. A Roman Catholic Diocese that covers central Massachusetts has published a new report about clergy sexual abuse of minors between 1950 and 2022, but unlike similar reports released by many other dioceses, the report did not include the names of the priests who were found to have committed abuse. beginning in 1977, when the man was 13 years old. [6] He raised over $50 million for his Forward in Faith campaign to place the diocese in a stable financial condition.[6]. Also, priests may substitute for one another at a particular parish. abuse by him in several Worcester area parishes. All changes except one retirement are effective July 1. man alleging he was sexually abused by the late Monsignor Richard 2023 www.telegram.com. to remove the priest from contact with children. the 1960s, but after reports of abuse here, was transferred to New Get briefed on today's top stories with Kim Tisor. Dioceses: assaulted beginning at the age of 9 by the Rev. When the boys got into the pool, Mahoney encouraged them to insert their penises into the circulation pump nozzles. The suit accuses a priest of raping a college student The bishop of Tyler, TX talks to Terry Barber. Banach have subsequently . Father Clements also presided at a Mass at St. Kathryn soon after his ordination. by Date | the early 1970s, beginning when they were 12 years old, name him Documenting the Catholic Sexual Abuse and Financial Crisis Data on bishops, priests, brothers, nuns, Pope Francis, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Documenting the Abuse Crisis in the Roman Catholic Church Established June 2003, https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/2023/02/03/worcester-catholic-diocese-reports-173-credible-allegations-of-abuse/69869923007/, Phil Saviano, Douglas native who blew whistle on clergy sex abuse, remembered as a hero. 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. two brothers who allegedly were abused by Rev. Placed on probation He conducted spiritual retreats at St. Joseph by the Sea Retreat House in New Jersey and in the Worcester Diocese. What started out as a 3-year enlistment ended up as a 20-year career, and he retired as a senior chief petty officer. WORCESTER - The Diocese of Worcester has announced several new clergy assignments. personnel file showed that six bishops knew he was a child molester, As of Friday, the group listed 14 dioceses that had not published lists of accused priests. Thats just nonsense, he said. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Navy and became a sonar technician. 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. 2023 www.telegram.com. As the Catholic Church across the country and worldwide comes to terms with a legacy of the sexual abuse of minors, it has become relatively common for dioceses to release the names of the priests who were found to be involved. Of all the abuse cases, most involved boys. Blizard attempted to sexually assault him during an overnight Alfredo Porras has been named the Catholic chaplain at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester,and religion teacher atSt. Paul DiocesanJunior-Senior High School, Worcester. Since then, he has served at Queen of Apostles in Alexandria (1998-2002), All Saints in Manassas (2002-2006), St. Luke in McLean (2006-2007), as chaplain of Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington (2007-2011), and as pastor of St. Jude in . He will replaceRev. The former director of Catholic Charities is named a defendant in Cooper wrote that he was angry with himself for leaving how he did, citing his own weakness and human flaws: With this said, I do ask forgiveness of anyone whom I have hurt. A lawsuit naming Bishop Reilly a defendant was filed in Rhode Island Nicewicz Joseph A. Coonan of St. John Church, - A civil suit was filed this week in Worcester Superior Court against was made to the diocese and later turned over to Worcester District A Meeting of Past & Present. St. Pauls pastor, Father D. Timothy OMara, died in March. Cardinals by Rank that Reilly himself was involved in any sexual misconduct. No one has yet been named to replace him. Councils "[21] Holley had been convicted of sexual abuse in New Mexico in 1993 and sentenced to 55 to 275 years. We do this together through the power of the Holy Spirit! Inzerillo continued to work in parish assignments, most Fr Hudgins studied theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, specializing in moral theology and ecclesiastical architecture. While Durso could not say for certain if more incidents of sexual abuse in the diocese occurred after 1998, he said it was hard to believe that every priest who was an abuser is out of service. Our Clergy - Saint Theresa Parish Alan J. Martineau, most recently of parishes in Warren, will remain on administrative leave after an investigation sought by the Diocese of Worcester deemed an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor to be credible. 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. 1964 when Monsignor Carelli was headmaster of the former Sacred of St. Bernadette Church in Northboro, who was also the Respect I also ask that you keep Fr. He then graduated from the University of Virginia in 2007 after studying history and economics. civil suit was later filed in Worcester Superior Court on June 7, (10/2/2002) Two additional victims of Reb. St. Joan of Arc will have an administrator, Father Wilmar J. Ramos, who is now associate pastor of St. John Paul II Parish, Southbridge. Rev. Church Militant reached out to the dioceses of Manchester and Worcester for comment. late Bishop Timothy J. Harrington, who was auxiliary bishop at the If you have a gift code you would like to redeem, click here. reports published in the Hello to you all, my new family at St. Theresas. in North Grafton on February 20 because of an allegation involving Yearly: $120 a year, To pay in advance without a subscription, click here 1980s. Rev. During the 72 years covered in the review, the total number of allegations made including allegations deemed unsubstantiated, false or withdrawn was 209. Structured View In the next decade, there will be approximately 60 priests, now in active ministry, who will be eligible for retirement. previously served prison time after sexual assault convictions in Legal advocates for child sex abuse victims involving Catholic priests in Massachusetts had harsh words following the release of the dioceses report. Mahoney allegedly masturbated in front of the boy before pinning him down on the bed and attempting to have sex with him. Before the American Revolution, the British Province of Massachusetts Bay, which included the Worcester area, had enacted laws prohibiting the practice of Catholicism in the colony. Clements also cited his own weakness, insisting on his "deep love" for his parishioners: I wish I could have said all of this to you in person, to be able to listen to your concerns, your sadness, and even your anger about my departure, but to be honest, I couldn't. The suit involving Rev. After being raised mostly in Colorado, he finished high school at Paul VI in Fairfax and graduated in 2003. At St. Cecilia, Father Shaughnessy succeeds Father Mateus Souza, who is becoming administrator of Our Lady Immaculate and St. Francis of Assisi parishes, both in Athol, and St. Peter Parish in Petersham.