Massachusetts Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse as a child by a Massachusetts clergy member, you have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable.
- Recent reports have shown an extensive history of child sexual abuse by clergy members in Massachusetts Catholic dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Boston and the Dioceses of Worcester, Springfield, and Fall River.
- Survivors of clergy abuse in Massachusetts have options for seeking accountability from the church.
Overview of Clergy Sexual Abuse Allegations in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has been plagued by an epidemic of clergy sexual abuse for decades. The scope of the problem first came to light with the Boston Globe’s landmark 2002 reporting on abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston. Surrounding states like Rhode Island and Vermont have also seen numerous allegations of clergy abuse within the past several years.
In September 2026, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office released a new report finding that hundreds of clergy members from the Worcester, Springfield, and Fall River Catholic Dioceses abused nearly a thousand children over 70 years.
The investigation, launched in 2019, found evidence of abuse by 270 clergy members across all three dioceses as far back as the 1950s. The Attorney General said the dioceses knew that children were being abused, but did not act to stop it. Instead, they sought to protect the church’s reputation. Church leadership repeatedly failed to properly respond to abuse allegations, often transferring accused priests to other parishes to cover up and not reporting to the police.
The Attorney General’s Report
In the Attorney General’s report, the office called on the dioceses to take additional steps to protect children and improve their response to survivors. The Attorney General also called on the state legislature to eliminate the child sexual abuse case statute of limitations, create a lookback window, and end the charitable-immunity cap on child sexual abuse lawsuits.
Various diocesan failures were exposed in the Attorney General’s investigation. In Fall River, the state alleged that between 1993 and 2020, the diocese submitted less than a third of the abuse allegations it received to be evaluated by the Ministerial Review Board. This broke a long-standing agreement to have allegations reviewed by an independent panel.
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Massachusetts Clergy Abuse Settlements
The largest clergy abuse settlement in Massachusetts—an $85 million settlement with the Archdiocese of Boston resolving 552 lawsuits from survivors—came in 2003 following the Boston Globe’s report.
Other individual cases have also been settled by dioceses across the state in recent years. In 2023, a Rhode Island survivor of abuse by a Fall River clergy member received a confidential settlement for abuse he suffered at age 8 in 1960. The survivor alleged Rev. James Porter abused him. Porter pleaded guilty in 1993 to molesting nearly 30 children while acting as a priest in the Fall River Diocese.
Legal Rights & Options for Clergy Abuse Survivors in Massachusetts
Survivors of clergy abuse in Massachusetts may have several legal rights and options for reporting the abuse, seeking support, and filing a civil lawsuit.
File a Massachusetts Clergy Abuse Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse
In Massachusetts, the statute of limitations for filing a child sexual abuse lawsuit is the later of the following:
- The survivor’s 53rd birthday
- Seven years from when the victim knew or should have known the abuse caused emotional or mental harm
The same law applies to claims over negligent conduct contributing to the abuse of a minor by another person or party. Therefore, lawsuits against a religious institution or organization, such as a diocese, must be filed by the same deadline.
Even if you feel you may have missed the applicable statute of limitations for your claim, speak to a lawyer just in case.
File a Police Report for Clergy Sexual Abuse
Although you are not required to report clergy abuse to police in order to take civil legal action, it can still be an important step in the process of seeking accountability.
If the alleged abuser is still alive, the report may trigger a criminal investigation, potentially leading to charges against them. Otherwise, reporting can still generate a valuable paper trail. You can report sexual abuse to the police by calling 911 or contacting your local law enforcement agency.
Report Clergy Sexual Abuse to Dioceses & Religious Institutions
You may also choose to report sexual abuse by clergy to state oversight agencies or the diocese where it occurred. If the survivor is still a minor, call the Child At Risk Hotline at 1-800-792-5200 to report the abuse to the Department of Children and Families.
You can also contact the relevant Victim Assistance Coordinator for the diocese or archdiocese involved.
Massachusetts also offers support resources for adults who are survivors of child abuse.
How A Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorney Can Help
Working with an experienced clergy sexual abuse attorney is crucial to the success of a legal claim in Massachusetts. An attorney can investigate, gather evidence, secure testimony, and file your claim before the applicable deadline passes. They can also negotiate for a full settlement and represent you in court, if necessary.
At Helping Survivors, we partner with Milberg, which provides trauma-informed legal representation to survivors and their families. Milberg has over 30 years of experience holding powerful institutions accountable for the harm they have caused, and they offer free, confidential case reviews for survivors. Get legal help here today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
Most clergy sexual abuse lawsuits seek accountability and compensation from the church or diocese rather than the abuser. In many cases, the diocese or its leadership failed to respond appropriately to abuse and protect children, and may be liable.
How Much Compensation Can a Survivor Receive?
Although no compensation is guaranteed in a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit, a successful claim may result in compensation for medical bills, therapy costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, PTSD, lost wages, and numerous other types of damages. An attorney can estimate the potential value of your claim.
Can I Remain Anonymous if I File Against the Church?
Courts allow survivors of child sexual abuse to file under pseudonyms, like John or Jane Doe, in many cases to protect their identity and privacy. Your attorney can file a petition with the court to allow you to pursue your claim anonymously.
Do Massachusetts Clergy Abuse Attorneys Offer Free Consultations?
At Helping Survivors, our partner attorneys at Milberg offer free consultations for Massachusetts clergy abuse survivors. They also don’t get paid anything unless and until they recover compensation for you. Contact us to learn more about your legal rights and options.
Have You Been Abused at a Juvenile Detention Center?
If you or a loved one has suffered sexual abuse while in a juvenile detention center, you have the right to seek justice. Our team of experienced attorneys is here to provide you with the legal support and guidance you deserve.
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