Frequently Asked Questions

What names are on this list?
The list includes the names of all clergy, members of religious orders, and diocesan personnel with a finding of credibility of sexual abuse of a minor while serving in the Diocese of Springfield as determined by the Diocesan Review Board or its predecessor the Misconduct Commission.

Are these new allegations?
These are not new allegations.  In fact the findings in many of these cases date back decades. What is new is that a number of these are now being listed for the first time. Previously findings against clerics who were deceased when the allegation came forward, those against religious order members who ministered within the Diocese of Springfield and diocesan personnel were not publically listed on the diocesan website.

Why is the list being updated?
The list is being updated because the diocese is committed to transparency and healing. The decision to expand the list of all with a finding of credibility was not an easy one. This was because a deceased priest does not possess the opportunity to participate in the review of the allegation. However acknowledging a survivor’s allegation to be credible brings the truth of their horrific experiences into the light. Many dioceses across the country have added the names of deceased priests for that same reason.

What is a credible allegation?
An allegation is determined to be credible if there is reasonable cause to believe that the sexual abuse occurred. It is most similar to a grand jury indictment in our legal system.

What kind of an investigation currently takes place when an allegation is made?
Currently, when an allegation is made, the case is immediately referred to the appropriate District Attorney’s Office in Western Massachusetts as set forth by the Memorandum of Understanding that the diocese entered into in April of 2020.
So as not to interfere in any way, only after civil authorities have completed their review of the allegation does the diocese begin its review. The Diocesan Review Board will then review the allegations and make a recommendation to the bishop. Their finding will be based on the report of the panel of investigators. Each case will be investigated in a trauma-informed way.

Is a priest or deacon still in ministry while the investigation is being conducted?
Once an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor is received, a priest, deacon or diocesan employee is placed on administrative leave while the investigation is being conducted.  We take this action to ensure the safety of children. However, the priest, deacon or diocesan employee is presumed innocent until the investigation is complete.

What happens to a member of clergy if an allegation is deemed credible?
No priest or permanent deacon who is found to have a credible allegation of sexual abuse against him shall be allowed to return to any ministry. The bishop reports the allegations to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in Rome, which will conduct a trial as required by canon law. However, the CDF may authorize an administrative penal process in which the bishop can issue a suggested penalty.  If law enforcement decides to prosecute and is found guilty in a criminal proceeding, the individual will serve the sentence rendered by the court.

What Church penalty can be imposed for a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor?
Under no circumstances will an offender be allowed to celebrate Mass publicly, wear clerical garb, or present himself publicly as a priest or permanent deacon.  The Diocese of Springfield may pursue all available courses of action permitted by the Code of Canon Law.

What does dismissal from the clerical state mean for the priest or deacon?
It means the legal status of the priest or deacon changes. He now has the status of a lay person, not a cleric. He also has other restrictions placed on him that might not apply to other lay persons. So, for instance, a priest dismissed from the clerical state may no longer exercise priestly ministry, including saying Mass, present himself as a priest, use the title “Father” or “Reverend”, hold pastoral and teaching positions in the Church.

How is the reputation of a priest restored if the allegations of sexual abuse of a minor are not found to be credible?
If the name of a cleric, religious or lay employee becomes public during the investigation period and the allegations are subsequently found to be not credible, the Diocese of Springfield will publicly disclose that finding and will work closely with that individual and take any other appropriate actions.

 What support is available to a person who as a minor was sexually abused by a representative of the diocese?
Assistance is available through the Office of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance, led by a lay social worker and psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner. Contact via reportabuse@diospringfield.org or 800-842-9055.