Report of Findings of Credibility of Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor


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BackgroundCriteria / Independent ReviewFrequently Asked QuestionsGlossary of Terms / Categories & Listings



BACKGROUND
The Diocese of Springfield (“Diocese”) has previously published a list of clergy whom a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been made against them while they were living.  However, the names of clergy who were deceased when the allegation was reported, the names of priests from religious orders who ministered in the Diocese and lay church staff were not included.
The list published here contains the names of clergy who have engaged in public ministry in the Diocese and have had a finding of credibility of an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, including those who were living at the time the allegation was brought forward as well as those who were deceased at the time the allegation was reported to the Diocese. The list also includes the names of laypersons who were employed in a ministry of the Diocese of Springfield and have had a finding of credibly of an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor while working for the diocese. Finally, the names of clergy from another diocese, eparchy or religious order who ministered within the Diocese who had a finding of credibly of an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor in the Diocese, and the determination was made by their diocese, eparchy or religious order, are also included.

CRITERIA
Allegations of sexual abuse of a minor that were determined to be credible by the Misconduct Commission for Diocesan Personnel (1992 – 2004) or the Diocesan Review Board (2004 – present) were included on the list based on the following criteria:
Inclusion Criteria
  • Allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a bishop, priest, deacon, other religious, or lay employee who is/was incardinated, assigned to public ministry, or employed by the Diocese of Springfield;
  • The allegation has been determined to be credible by the Misconduct Commission for Diocesan Personnel (1992-2004) or the Review Board (2004-present); and/or
  • The allegation has been determined to be credible by another diocese, eparchy or religious order and has been verified by the Diocese of Springfield through a primary source.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric who is/was incardinated, assigned to public ministry, or employed by the Diocese of Springfield that were not assessed by the Misconduct Commission for Diocesan Personnel (1992-2004) or the Review Board (2004-present); and,
  • Allegations of sexual abuse of a minor who were assessed by the Misconduct Commission for Diocesan Personnel (1993-2004) or Review Board (2004-present) that did not result in a documented finding of credibility; and
  • Allegations of individuals not associated with and outside the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Springfield.

INDEPENDENT REVIEW
The Diocesan Office of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance conducted a systematic review of all cases to assure the same standard for names now being listed was applied. To ensure that the process was rigorous and consistent, an independent review was conducted by Dr. Raina V. Lamade, a forensic psychologist, faculty member, and researcher from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (see Dr. Raina V. Lamade’s Summary of Finding). The published list reflects the findings of the findings of these reviews.
While the Diocese has taken great care in the preparation of this list, we recognize that this information may still be imperfect. Going forward, the names of additional individuals found to have credible findings of sexual abuse of minors will be added to the list, based on new information or a new evaluation by the Diocesan Review Board.
FULL INDEPENDENT REVIEW AVAILABLE HERE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
This glossary is provided to help readers understand Church language used throughout the report.

CATEGORIES
The list includes the following three main categories:
Finding of Credibility of an Allegation of Sexual Abuse of a Minor:
Includes bishops, priests, deacons, other religious, and lay employees whom an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was made and it was determined to be credible using the standard defined above and who were incardinated in the Diocese of Springfield, assigned for public ministry in the Diocese of Springfield, or employed by the Diocese of Springfield. This category is divided into five subcategories: (A) Incardinated in the Diocese of Springfield; (B) Deceased Clergy Incardinated in the Diocese of Springfield for Whom Criminal of Canonical Proceedings Were Not Completed; (C) Other Diocese; (D) Religious Order; and (E) Lay Employee. For those in sub-categories C and D, respectively, the priest was incardinated in another diocese or was a member of a religious order but exercised public ministry in the Diocese of Springfield.
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Finding of Credibility of an Allegation of Sexual Abuse of a Minor: Determined to be Credible by Another Diocese or Religious Order
Includes priests or other religious and against whom an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was made that has been determined to be credible by another diocese or religious order and who were assigned to public ministry in the Diocese of Springfield. This category is divided into one subcategory: (A) Public Ministry within the Diocese of Springfield. For those in this subcategory, the priest was incardinated in another diocese or was a member of a religious order and exercised public ministry in the Diocese of Springfield.
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Finding of Credibility of an Allegation Sexual Misconduct Involving an Adult
Includes a priest whom an allegation of sexual misconduct involving an adult was determined to be credible and whose name was previously published (2017) on the list of credibly accused clergy. This category is divided into one subcategory: (A) Incardinated in the Diocese of Springfield. In 2019, Pope Francis issued an Apostolic Letter Vos estis lux mundi that established a definition for a “vulnerable person” as, “Any person in a state of infirmity, physical or mental deficiency or deprivation of personal liberty which, in fact, even occasionally, limits their ability to understand or to want or to otherwise resist the offence.” Currently, the Diocese of Springfield is conducting a review of its policies and procedures concerning sexual abuse, assault and/or misconduct with a vulnerable person.
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Office of Safe Environment & Victim Assistance
Diocese of Springfield
65 Elliot Street • P.O. Box 1730
Springfield, MA 01102-1730
413-732-3175