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

Key Points:

• A report by the Massachusetts attorney general revealed that over 270 Catholic clerics sexually abused nearly 1,000 children across three dioceses over several decades, with most abuse occurring before 2002.
• The eight-year investigation did not lead to new indictments due to legal limitations, including expired statutes of limitations and some conduct not being criminal at the time, though three cases were referred for prosecution.
• The report highlighted that church officials in the dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester were aware of the abuse for decades but failed to take effective action to prevent it or address institutional leadership failures.
• Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell urged the church to implement meaningful changes to protect children and improve responses to abuse allegations, emphasizing the ongoing trauma experienced by survivors.
• Only the Diocese of Worcester responded to the report, expressing a commitment to study the findings and improve victim response efforts, while past apologies from church leaders were noted but no new apologies were issued.