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Brother Robert Burgess made his profession as a Salesian brother in 1967 and withdrew from the order in 1976. In March 2002, the Boston District Attorney was notified that someone had been sexually abused in 1970 by Burgess and another Salesian brother. According to the allegations, the sexual abuse by Burgess occurred on a trip back from a camp in New Hampshire and also in Burgess’ room at a rectory in Boston.
Documents related to his case were included in the Manchester, New Hampshire Attorney General’s report in March 2003 and in the New Hampshire Attorney General’s audit report of March 7, 2009. The civil lawsuit was settled. The case was referred to the Suffolk County District Attorney.
Because Burgess was a member of a religious order, he was omitted from the Archdiocese of Boston’s 2011 database of accused clergy; however, he was formally included on the Salesians of Don Bosco’s list of credibly accused individuals in March 2020.
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.
Brother Robert Burgess’s case illustrates how survivors of sexual abuse by religious order brothers can face additional barriers to institutional accountability compared to those abused by diocesan priests. Although Salesian brothers like Burgess operated within the Boston Archdiocese’s geographic jurisdiction, the archdiocese’s practice of excluding religious order members from its public list of accused clergy left this survivor without the same degree of formal public recognition extended to victims of diocesan priests. It was not until 2020, when the Salesians of Don Bosco published their own credibly accused list, that Burgess received formal institutional acknowledgment.
The civil settlement reached in connection with the 2002 lawsuit, and the referral of the case to law enforcement, demonstrate that the allegations were taken seriously in legal proceedings even when the institutional response remained incomplete. The inclusion of Burgess’s case in two separate Attorney General reports in New Hampshire also reflects the cross-jurisdictional reach of the harm, which extended from Boston to camp settings in New Hampshire.
For survivors who were sexually abused by Brother Robert Burgess, or by any other Salesian brother serving in the Boston area during the late 1960s and 1970s, civil claims directed at the Salesian order, as well as any related institutions, may be available.
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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