Massachusetts AG reports 944 children abused by Catholic clergy, no new charges filed

<p>The Massachusetts Attorney General released a report on September 30, 2026, documenting over 270 Catholic clerics accused of sexually abusing 944 children across three dioceses, but the investigation will not result in new indictments.</p><p><strong>Context:</strong> The report indicates that the dioceses created an appearance of safety while church leaders exploited loopholes to protect the institution's reputation, systematically concealing significant levels of abuse.</p><p><strong>Statements:</strong> Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell stated in the report, "We deeply understand that behind every number is a child whose safety was violated, a family that was changed, and a survivor who has carried the trauma of that abuse for years, and in many cases, decades." </p><p><strong>Investigation details:</strong> The Massachusetts AG's office began its investigation in 2019, examining church responses to abuse allegations over more than six decades. The Boston Globe previously reported on widespread abuse and institutional cover-ups in the Archdiocese of Boston in the early 2000s. The recent report aimed to provide a public accounting of incidents in the Roman Catholic dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester. Investigators reviewed over 300,000 pages of documents and interviewed more than 100 individuals, including survivors, attorneys, and clergy.</p><p><strong>Legislative changes:</strong> Following media reports of abuse, Massachusetts lawmakers criminalized the reckless endangerment of children and expanded mandated reporter requirements to include clergy. However, these laws cannot be applied retroactively to crimes that occurred before they took effect, and most of the abuse detailed in the report occurred before 2002. The AG noted that newly found misconduct fell outside applicable statutes of limitations, and many accused clergy are deceased, limiting survivors' legal options.</p><p><strong>Cover-up findings:</strong> The report concluded that diocesan leaders actively covered up abuse allegations prior to 2002 by transferring accused clergy to new congregations without informing parishioners. Some accused priests were sent to psychiatric treatment facilities before being allowed to return to ministry, with some later accused of reoffending.</p><p><strong>Survivor experiences:</strong> Survivors described feeling pressured to testify to internal church investigators or remain silent, with some alleging that the dioceses used non-disclosure agreements to prevent discussion of abuse allegations. One survivor recounted being told, "the best way for this to go away is not to talk about it," while another described the internal review board as resembling "a tribunal." Survivor Phil Saviano stated he refused to sign an NDA because he felt he had nothing to lose.</p><p><strong>Ongoing issues:</strong> The report highlighted that institutional secrecy has not been fully addressed, with 12 dioceses across the United States still not publishing lists of credibly accused clergy. In Massachusetts, Worcester is the only diocese that has not published such a list. The report suggests that these lists could encourage survivors to come forward, reveal the scope of abuse, and promote transparency and accountability.</p><p><strong>Response from Worcester Diocese:</strong> A spokesperson for the Worcester Diocese did not address questions regarding the lack of a published list but stated that they "welcome the AG's report." They added that their procedures over the past three decades, including candidate screening for ordination and safety training in parishes, have made a significant difference, and that the diocese has passed annual independent compliance audits since a new Charter was adopted in 2002.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The investigation provides a historical reckoning for nearly 1,000 survivors, but decades of concealment have left many with validation and limited legal recourse.</p>