Story perspectives

Massachusetts AG Releases Clergy Abuse Report Citing 270 Clerics

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 12:22 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell released a clergy-abuse report identifying 270 clerics who harmed about 1,000 children.
The abuse occurred in the Fall River, Springfield and Worcester dioceses, primarily before 2002.
Statutes of limitations blocked most prosecutions, prompting Campbell to call for eliminating civil-claim time limits.
Worcester diocese will study the report and Fall River Bishop Edgar da Cunha apologized, outlining new safety steps.

History

Historical Context

In 2002, the Boston Archdiocese scandal erupted, prompting Cardinal Bernard Law’s resignation and an $85 million settlement with victims. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops subsequently adopted the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, mandating background checks for over 10,000 clergy. Today, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell’s report on 270 Massachusetts clerics mirrors the Boston case, highlighting lingering statutes of limitations that still shield many abusers. The precedent urges state legislatures to repeal limitation bars, aiming to prevent future settlements like Worcester’s 2024 safety overhaul from being delayed.

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Story summary

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell released a clergy-abuse report identifying 270 clerics who harmed about 1,000 children.
The abuse occurred in the Fall River, Springfield and Worcester dioceses, primarily before 2002.
Statutes of limitations blocked most prosecutions, prompting Campbell to call for eliminating civil-claim time limits.
Worcester diocese will study the report and Fall River Bishop Edgar da Cunha apologized, outlining new safety steps.

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