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Bishop George E. Rueger was ordained in 1958 and served within the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, where he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in 1987 and served in that role until his retirement in 2005. In July 2002, a civil lawsuit was filed alleging that Rueger had sexually abused a boy between the ages of 13 and 14 during the early 1960s. Rueger denied the allegation. The plaintiff withdrew the suit in November 2003 under disputed circumstances; his former attorney publicly alleged that a state police officer had pressured the dismissal, while the district attorney disputed that characterization and confirmed that his office’s criminal investigation into the allegations remained ongoing. The dismissal did not constitute a judicial finding on the merits of the allegation.
An internal diocesan investigation concluded there was no proof of the charges, and a representative of the Holy See to the United States concurred with that finding. As with all internal church investigations, the findings were not made by an independent body. Rueger died on April 6, 2019.
The civil suit against Auxiliary Bishop Rueger, though ultimately withdrawn, placed a formal allegation of childhood sexual abuse on the public record, tied directly to his ministry in the Worcester diocese. The allegation involved a minor over a sustained period and arose from conduct allegedly occurring during Rueger’s assignment as a parish priest — before his elevation to the episcopate.
With decades of dedicated advocacy, we have held abusers and institutions accountable, helping survivors secure justice and the resources to move forward.
For over two decades, we have focused solely on advocating for survivors, combining legal skill with compassion to guide them toward justice and healing.
We are honored to have guided thousands of survivors through the legal process, offering support, advocacy, and the resources they need to reclaim their lives.
The civil case filed against Bishop George E. Rueger in 2002 illustrates both the accessibility and the complexity of pursuing accountability against high-ranking members of the clergy. The voluntary dismissal of the suit in 2003 and the diocesan investigation’s findings did not erase the underlying allegation from the public record, nor do they preclude consideration of the broader institutional context in which the sexual alleged abuse took place. When abuse is alleged to have occurred during the 1960s, questions naturally arise about what was known at the time, how complaints may have been handled, and what systems existed within the diocese to respond to concerns involving clergy at any level of the hierarchy.
Cases involving bishops and other senior clergy carries particular significance because it examines conduct at the institutional leadership level. The rank of the accused does not diminish the validity of a survivor’s experience, nor does it reduce the relevance of civil accountability mechanisms. Massachusetts law may provide a framework that allows survivors to pursue claims even when significant time has passed since the alleged abuse.
Every survivor deserves compassion and acknowledgment. This video explains how civil law empowers individuals harmed by clergy abuse to pursue accountability and closure. Justice extends beyond courtrooms; it allows survivors to reclaim their voice and aids them on their healing journey. Survivors across Massachusetts continue proving that truth carries strength and healing begins with being heard.
Our experienced and compassionate team of attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and support staff have extensive training in working with sexual abuse victims.
These cases are complex; however, our team are experts in these types of cases and will diligently ensure our clients are compensated for full and fair value. We always do our best to help our clients heal by giving them a voice
and helping them seek a measure of justice.
Massachusetts Disclaimer:Herman Law has a multistate practice representing victims of sexual abuse in civil cases. A Herman Law attorney is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts. Each case is different, and results in prior cases do not assure a similar outcome in future cases. If there is no recovery, no fees or expenses will be charged. Attorney Advertising by Jenny Rossman.
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