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Brother Kenneth Ghastin was a member of the Franciscan Order who served in parishes and schools within the Archdiocese of Boston, including an assignment at Christopher Columbus High School in Boston’s North End. Allegations of sexual abuse became public in December 2002 through the release of his personnel file. The records documented claims that Ghastin molested two brothers during the early 1970s while they were students at the school.
The allegations were resolved through civil settlements reached in 1994. The reported abuse had lasting and devastating consequences for the survivors. According to church records and subsequent public reporting, the older brother — who received a financial settlement — later died by suicide. His death was a painful reminder of the profound and enduring harm that childhood sexual abuse can inflict on survivors and their families.
By the early 1990s, Ghastin had been removed from contact with minors. He was subsequently reported to be working as a librarian at Mount Alvernia Friary in Wappingers Falls, New York. He also had ties to ministry work in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Due to health concerns, he was believed to have retired to a friary in Florida. Ghastin died on October 2, 2013. His name was omitted from the Archdiocese of Boston’s 2011 public database of accused clergy.
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.
If you or someone you know experienced abuse connected to Brother Kenneth Ghastin, you may have legal options. Civil claims in cases involving clergy abuse often focus not only on the individual accused but also on the institutions that employed, supervised, and retained them. Herman Law may be able to help you explore what claims, if any, are available based on your specific circumstances and applicable law.
Prior settlements in individual cases may not necessarily foreclose all avenues for accountability, particularly with respect to institutional defendants not party to those earlier proceedings. An attorney can evaluate what options may remain viable.
Legal claims of this kind often examine whether school administrators or Church officials were aware of misconduct and whether appropriate action was taken to protect students. Institutions that grant religious educators access to minors may bear a legal duty to take reasonable steps to ensure student safety. Failure to act on known or reported abuse may constitute negligence under civil law, depending on the jurisdiction and facts involved.
Civil proceedings may also provide survivors an opportunity to obtain records that could reveal patterns of institutional knowledge or concealment. These disclosures can validate survivor experiences and expose systemic failures. Survivors who come forward contribute to a broader culture of institutional accountability and help strengthen safeguarding practices within religious and educational environments.
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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