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1 800 686 9921Ordained: 1949
Status: Accused
Died: 12/27/1995
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In 2021, the Diocese of Fall River publicly named Andrade as credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. The designation indicates the Diocese found the allegation met its internal credibility standard. Andrade died in 1995, before any canonical process could be completed.
Ordained: 1956
Status: Accused
Died: 8/31/1993
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Annunziato’s name is connected to the case of James Porter, a former Fall River Diocese priest who was later convicted of sexually abusing children across multiple parishes. Multiple parents and alleged victims reported in the early 1960s that they had told Annunziato about Porter’s abuse, and that Annunziato told them he could do nothing. Alleged victims also stated that Annunziato walked in on Porter abusing children at a church in North Attleboro on multiple occasions between 1960 and 1963 and took no action to stop him. Separately, in January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River publicly named Annunziato on its official list of clergy credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor.
Ordained: 1930
Status: Accused
Died: 11/3/1988
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Reports indicate that he may have abused over 100 children over the course of his lengthy ministry. His pattern of conduct was described as widely known among members of the older Portuguese parishes he served. Avila died in November 1988. The Diocese of Fall River formally included him on its list of clergy with credible allegations of the sexual abuse of minors in January 2021.
Ordained: 1977
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father William F. Baker served within the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, including an assignment at St. Patrick’s Church in Falmouth. He was included on the Diocese of Fall River’s official list of credibly accused clergy, published in January 2021 following a two-year review of nearly 70 years of records. That review was conducted with the assistance of former FBI leadership and an independent consulting firm. Baker’s faculties were eventually removed, and he was formally laicized in 2015.
Ordained: 1975
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father H. Stanley Barney served as a priest within the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. His name appeared on the list of 21 priests investigated for sexual misconduct published by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office on September 27, 2002. Reports indicate that there was one known victim associated with the investigation. Barney was not prosecuted due to the expiration of the Massachusetts statute of limitations. At some point during or following the investigation, his faculties were removed by the Diocese of Fall River.
Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused
Died: 3/12/1989
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River publicly released a list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor, and Father Bernier’s name was among those included. The diocese’s determination followed an extensive review of historical records and allegations. Father Bernier died in 1989, and no criminal proceedings were pursued during his lifetime.
Ordained: 2022
Status: Accused
Died: 6/26/1973
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Berube continued in ministry there until he became pastor emeritus in 1969 and served in that role until his death on June 26, 1973. His name was included on a list released by the Bristol County District Attorney in September 2002 of 21 Fall River diocese priests accused of sexual abuse of minors, identifying at least one alleged victim linked to him.
Ordained: 1975
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In May 2001, Boffa announced to his parish that he would be taking a leave of absence to address stress and depression. He stepped away from active ministry at that time. In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River publicly named him on its official list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse. His faculties have been removed, prohibiting him from functioning as a priest in any capacity.
Ordained: 1969
Status: Accused
Died: 3/23/2015
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In September 2002, amid the growing clergy abuse crisis in Massachusetts, Bristol County District Attorney Paul F. Walsh released the names of priests from the Fall River Diocese who had been accused of sexual abuse or misconduct. Father Boulet’s name appeared on that list, with two alleged victims documented by the District Attorney’s office.
Ordained: 1964
Status: Guilty plea
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Donald J. Bowen was ordained in 1964 and served in the Diocese of Fall River. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Bowen sexually abused a girl from the time she was 9 years old until she was 16. He also wrote letters to her stating that he would leave the priesthood to marry her, demonstrating the manipulative and predatory nature of his actions. The survivor reported the abuse to the Diocese in 1990. Rather than reporting the abuse to civil authorities or publicly acknowledging the abuse, the Diocese settled with her in 1992 for $200,000.
Ordained: 1959
Status: Settled
Died: 7/7/2024
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father James F. Buckley served within the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, including an assignment at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Orleans, Massachusetts. He retired in 2001 and was suspended in January 2020 following an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor occurring decades prior. Father Buckley denied the allegation at the time of his suspension, and the case was initially categorized by the diocese as a case in process. On December 13, 2021, the Diocese of Fall River formally announced that the allegation had been deemed credible and that Buckley would not return to ministry.
Ordained: 1970
Status: Accused
Died: 12/6/2023
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In January 2020, the Diocese of Fall River suspended Father Byington following an allegation that he had sexually abused a teenage boy in approximately 1971. According to the allegation, the survivor met Father Byington through a weekend retreat program called Encountering Christ in Others, open to Christian teenagers. Father Byington reportedly offered the then-teenager a ride home after the retreat but instead drove him to the rectory of Sacred Heart Church in Taunton, where the alleged abuse occurred. A survivor later stated publicly that nuns at the location attempted to block the stairs to prevent Father Byington from taking him upstairs.
Status: Accused
Died: 5/2/2004
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Seminarian George R. Carrier was affiliated with the Diocese of Fall River and served in various youth programs and parish settings, including Cathedral Camp in East Freetown, St. Vincent de Paul Camp in Westport, and St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth. In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River publicly named him on its list of credibly accused clergy — individuals against whom an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was made that met the diocese’s semblance of truth standard.
Ordained: 1980
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Charles Cavanagh, a Greek-Melkite Catholic priest, served at Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich within the Diocese of Fall River, MA. In January 2021, the Diocese publicly named Father Cavanagh on its list of publicly accused clergy — individuals against whom public allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been made. The Diocese has noted that inclusion on this list does not itself constitute a formal diocesan finding of credibility, but reflects that public accusations have been made.
Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused
Died: 9/5/2011
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father James A. Clark was publicly identified by the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, as a credibly accused cleric in January 2021, when the diocese released its list of clergy against whom allegations of sexual abuse of a minor were found to meet the diocese’s “semblance of truth” standard under its internal review process. His inclusion was part of the diocese’s broader disclosure of historical clergy abuse allegations.
Ordained: 1956
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Paul G. Connolly was a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, MA, who faced allegations that he sexually abused at least eleven altar boys during the 1960s. In the mid-1960s, the parents of one boy reported the abuse directly to the Diocese. Rather than removing Connolly from ministry, the Diocese transferred him to another assignment, where he continued as an active priest.
Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused
Died: 4/28/2014
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In September 2002, Cronin’s name appeared on a publicly released list of priests investigated for allegations of sexual misconduct by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
Ordained: 1982
Status: Settled
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
A survivor reported that Father Degagne allegedly sexually abused him in 1972–1973 while Degagne was working as a camp counselor at Cathedral Camp in Freetown, Massachusetts — before he was ordained. Additional allegations led to a civil lawsuit filed in July 2022, which claimed sexual abuse of a boy aged 12–13 in 1988, occurring in New Bedford and during an overnight trip to Maine. That matter was resolved through a settlement in May 2023.
Status: Acquitted
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In a civil lawsuit filed in August 1998, the same woman alleged that just prior to her assault, Delgado had been accused of molesting a thirteen-year-old girl, and that he reportedly pleaded guilty to a related charge in 1997. According to published reports, Delgado may have returned to Colombia as part of a probation agreement. In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River publicly disclosed Delgado’s name as part of its list of clergy facing sexual abuse allegations, identifying Cathedral Camp in East Freetown as a location where he had worked.
Ordained: 1962
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Arthur T. DeMello was identified as one of 18 priests accused of sexual abuse by the Boston Herald on February 1, 2002. His name appeared again in September 2002 on a list released by the Bristol County District Attorney documenting 21 priests accused of sexual abuse within the Diocese of Fall River. Public records indicate that at least one individual reported alleged sexual abuse by DeMello, though the claim was found to be beyond the criminal statute of limitations.
Ordained: 1926
Status: Accused
Died: 5/16/1981
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River publicly listed Father dos Reis among clergy on its credibly accused list, reflecting the diocese’s determination that allegations against him met its internal “semblance of truth” threshold for disclosure. His listing is part of broader diocesan efforts across Massachusetts to disclose historical allegations of clergy sexual abuse of minors.
Ordained: 1933
Status: Accused
Died: 10/7/1975
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father J. Arthur G. Dupuis was a Roman Catholic priest ordained in 1962 who served in multiple parishes within the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, during his ministry. According to public records, Father Dupuis is among clergy who have been accused of sexual abuse of minors, with allegations received by the Diocese relating to misconduct during his assignments.
Ordained: 1899
Status: Accused
Died: 9/12/1966
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Hugo Dylla was a Roman Catholic priest who served in the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. According to records published by the Diocese, Father Dylla is among the clergy named in connection with allegations of sexual abuse of minors during his time in diocesan assignments.
Ordained: 1970
Status: Accused
Died: 12/5/2016
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River released a list of clergy credibly or publicly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. Father Fahey’s name was included on that list, with his status recorded as “Faculties Restricted.” The Diocese’s inclusion of his name reflects that allegations against him met the diocese’s internal review standard — defined as allegations meeting a “semblance of truth” threshold. The Diocese of Fall River’s publication of this list was part of a broader effort to increase transparency regarding historical cases of clergy sexual abuse within its boundaries.
Ordained: 1976
Status: Convicted
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Rev. Stephen A. Fernandes was a priest of the Diocese of Fall River assigned to Our Lady of Fatima Parish in New Bedford. In November 2004, he was arrested and placed on leave after a computer repair technician discovered child sexual abuse material involving men and boys on his laptop computer and reported it to the Diocese. Fernandes was also charged with exhibiting or posing at least one child engaged in a sexual act.
Ordained: 1956
Status: Accused
Died: 4/8/2012
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Bento R. Fraga retired from active ministry in 2005 after nearly fifty years of service in the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. In January 2008, the Diocese received a report that Fraga had sexually abused a minor on one occasion in 1979 while assigned as pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Attleboro. Fraga denied the allegation, but following a full review, the Diocesan Review Board found the claim credible.
Order: MS
Ordained: 1952
Status: Accused
Died: 6/26/2000
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Fredette died on June 26, 2000, in Attleboro, Massachusetts. In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River publicly named Fredette on its official list of clergy who have been publicly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. The Diocese’s list identifies him as “Alfred,” while other records — including his obituary, genealogical records, and the BishopAccountability database — identify him as Albert A. Fredette. This discrepancy across records may have created challenges for survivors attempting to identify him or research his history.
Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused
Died: 3/1/2016
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Steven R. Furtado served as pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Attleboro, Massachusetts, before being placed on administrative leave in April 2002 following allegations of clergy sexual abuse dating back approximately twenty years. Prior to that assignment, Father Furtado had also served as a hospital chaplain within the Diocese of Fall River. The Diocese included his name among 21 accused priests whose names were released to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office in 2002; authorities noted one alleged victim but indicated they had no jurisdiction over the matter. Father Furtado died on March 1, 2016.
Order: SSCC
Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused
Died: 6/27/2001
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Allegations of sexual abuse against Gaudin were publicly disclosed in January 2011, when his name appeared on a list of accused clergy released by Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian. That list documented clergy against whom Garabedian’s firm had obtained settlements or arbitration awards on behalf of survivors. At least one claim involving allegations against Gaudin was connected to a process through the Boston Archdiocese. In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River formally included Gaudin on its official list of credibly accused clergy — a designation applied to individuals against whom allegations were determined to meet the diocese’s semblance of truth standard.
Ordained: 1969
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In August 2022, the Diocese of Fall River publicly added Gomes to its list of credibly accused clergy. The designation concerned allegations of sexual abuse that the diocese determined to have occurred decades earlier. Following a review process that included suspension from ministry, notification of civil authorities, an internal investigation, and consultation with the Ministerial Review Board, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha determined that the sexual abuse allegations were credible. Gomes’s ministerial faculties were subsequently restricted.
Order: FFI
Ordained: 1998
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Angelo Michael Guarin was a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate (FFI) who served at Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford, Massachusetts, exercising public ministry under the authority of the Diocese of Fall River. In January 2021, the Diocese publicly named Guarin on its list of credibly accused clergy, following an evaluation of allegations of sexual abuse of a minor that met the diocese’s stated threshold for credibility.
Ordained: 1998
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Hernando Herrera was assigned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish when he was placed on administrative leave in August 2003 due to allegations of sexual abuse with two minors. At the time of his suspension, Herrera was serving as executive director of youth ministries for the Diocese of Fall River — a position he had held since June 2002. He had also served as a part-time chaplain at Coyle & Cassidy High School in Taunton from 1999 to 2002.
Ordained: 1984
Status: Indicted
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Hession pleaded not guilty to all charges on January 11, 2021. Following trial delays, a jury found him not guilty on June 21, 2024, on two counts related to the alleged 2005–2008 abuse. The jury deadlocked on the third count — alleging indecent sexual assault and battery on a 13-year-old boy in 2002 — and Judge Mark C. Gildea declared a mistrial on that count. A retrial was scheduled for February 10, 2025, but was delayed after the defense sought additional time to review discovery. Criminal proceedings on the remaining count are ongoing, and Hession continues to face the possibility of retrial.
Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused
Died: 2/15/2007
Diocese: Diocese of FaHiggins’ name first appeared publicly in September 2002, when Bristol County District Attorney Paul Walsh released a list of sexual abuse accused clergy. Higgins was named with one alleged victim; the claims were noted as falling beyond the statute of limitations at that time. In February 2019, the Diocese of Richmond included him on its list of clergy with credible and substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. The Diocese of Fall River subsequently included him on its list of credibly accused clergy in January 2021. His faculties had been removed prior to his death in February 2007.
Ordained: 1960
Status: Accused
Died: 2/7/2014
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Robert S. Kaszynski — known to many parishioners as “Father K” — resigned from ministry in March 2002 following allegations that he had sexually abused at least two teenage girls in the 1960s and 1970s. A separate allegation by another woman was made in May 2002. By September 2002, the Bristol County District Attorney’s office had documented four allegations against Father Kaszynski, all of which were beyond the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution. He was subsequently included on the Diocese of Fall River’s list of credibly accused clergy published in January 2021. Father Kaszynski passed away on February 7, 2014.
Ordained: 1932
Status: Accused
Died: 6/9/1993
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River included Keliher on its list of credibly accused clergy. The listing acknowledges that an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was made against him that meets the diocese’s semblance of truth standard. Specific details about the nature of the allegation, the number of victims, or the time period when the alleged sexual abuse occurred have not been publicly released.
Ordained: 1997
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In October 2024, the Diocese publicly added his name to its list of credibly accused clergy following a review of older files that revealed allegations of child sexual abuse dating back to the 1990s. Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha placed Father Kocik on administrative leave and restricted him from public ministry, including celebrating Mass, performing sacraments, providing spiritual direction, or presenting himself as a priest in good standing. The Diocese has clarified that a determination of credibility reflects that an allegation is believable, and does not constitute a finding of guilt in a court of law. Father Kocik has denied culpability in the incident.
Order: SJ
Ordained: 1987
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Following a 1989 investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Social Services into an allegation of sexual misconduct at Boston College High School, Kossak left that assignment and later served in other parishes and ministries. Kossak was dismissed from the Society of Jesus on August 30, 2003, following allegations that had become public in March 2002.
Ordained: 2000
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Andrzej Jacek Kozanko, originally from Poland, was ordained in 2000 and served in various parish and chaplaincy roles while incardinated in the Diocese of Fall River, including work as a parish priest, hospital chaplain, and counselor at a youth camp during his seminary summers.
Ordained: 1988
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Daniel W. Lacroix was ordained in 1988 and served for decades in parishes within the Diocese of Fall River, including pastoral roles in New Bedford and surrounding communities. In November 2019, Lacroix was placed on administrative leave after an external audit of diocesan personnel records brought allegations of past sexual abuse to the diocese’s attention that allegedly occurred decades earlier.
Ordained: 1987
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father David J. Landry was ordained in 1987 and served in parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. His name first appeared on a list made public in September 2002, which identified 21 Fall River priests investigated by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office following allegations of sexual abuse. Landry was listed with one alleged sexual abuse victim, though the allegation was noted as falling outside the statute of limitations at that time.
Order: SJ
Ordained: 1967
Status: Accused
Died: 1/16/2023
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Maurice T. Lebel was ordained in 1967 as a priest of the Jesuit order. He later left the Jesuits in 1991 and became a priest of the Diocese of Portland, Maine. He retired in 2003 but remained active in ministry in Maine. In June 2007, he was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor that allegedly occurred in the early 1980s, during his time ministering in Massachusetts as a Jesuit — including his years of service in the Diocese of Fall River. Following a canonical trial, church authorities determined in February 2011 that the allegation was “unproven,” and he was reinstated to public ministry. Father Lebel died on January 16, 2023.
Ordained: 1970
Status: Accused
Died: 9/11/2024
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Joseph D. Maguire served in numerous parishes throughout the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. In January 2021, the Diocese publicly named him on its list of clergy credibly accused of the sexual abuse of a minor. He died on September 11, 2024.
Ordained: 1945
Status: Accused
Died: 11/7/2005
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Raymond W. McCarthy was ordained in 1945 and served in the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. In September 2002, his name appeared on a publicly released list of priests accused of sexual abuse, issued by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. That list identified four alleged victims associated with Father McCarthy.
Ordained: 1968
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River included Father Messier on its list of credibly accused clergy — a designation applied to individuals against whom an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was made that meets the diocese’s semblance of truth standard. His status on that list is noted as faculties restricted.
Ordained: 1962
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father James E. Murphy was a Catholic priest who served in the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, and later in the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska, among other assignments over the course of his ministry. Allegations of sexual misconduct involving minors during the period of 1965 to 1971 were later documented through official church review processes.
Ordained: 1975
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Bruce Neylon served as pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. In May 2019, he was removed from active ministry following an allegation that he had sexual contact with a minor who was approximately 14 to 15 years old on numerous occasions in the early 1980s.
Ordained: 1975
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Herbert T. Nichols served in the Diocese of Fall River, MA, and was publicly named as accused in January 2020. A review of diocesan personnel files revealed an allegation that he sexually abused a minor approximately 20 years prior to the announcement. Father Nichols denied the allegation, and the Diocese placed him on suspension from all ministry while the matter was investigated.
Order: SSCC
Ordained: 1970
Status: Settled
Died: 1/20/2008
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In October 2014, Nickel was included on the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’s list of accused clergy and on the Diocese of Winona-Rochester’s list of priests with credible sexual abuse accusations. In April 2012, the settlement of at least one claim involving Nickel was announced. Two additional lawsuits were filed in December 2014 alleging the sexual abuse of boys in the Fall River Diocese during the 1970s and 1980s. In April 2017, the Diocese of Fall River settled for $880,000 with eight men who alleged abuse as boys by Nickel. In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River included Nickel on its official list of credibly accused clergy.
Ordained: 1967
Status: Accused
Died: 3/1/2004
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
The Diocese of Fall River publicly named Norton on its list of credibly accused clergy on January 7, 2021, acknowledging that allegations of sexual abuse against him had been investigated and found to meet the diocese’s credibility standard. The specific details of the allegations against Norton have not been widely publicized, but his inclusion on the diocesan list represents an official acknowledgment that allegations made against him were found to have sufficient credibility to warrant public disclosure. Norton died in 2004, approximately seventeen years before his name appeared on the diocesan list.
Ordained: 1960
Status: Accused
Died: 1/19/1999
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Thomas E. O’Dea served in the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts for nearly four decades until his death in January 1999. In 1993, a man came forward alleging that O’Dea had sexually abused him in the 1960s when he was age 12, in a school basement while O’Dea was assigned to St. James Parish in New Bedford. The accuser also reported that he had been abused by Father James Porter during the same period, when both priests were assigned to the same parish.
Ordained: 1960
Status: Accused
Died: 4/16/1996
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
In January 2021, the Diocese of Fall River publicly named Father Pegnam on its list of clergy credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor — a designation that reflects the diocese’s own determination that the allegation meets the applicable standard. Because Father Pegnam served in both parish and military chaplaincy roles, survivors of his alleged conduct may have been spread across different locations and periods of time, which can make disclosure and the pursuit of legal action particularly challenging. Survivors in these circumstances often experience significant and long-lasting emotional and psychological effects and are encouraged to consult with qualified legal counsel to understand their options.
Ordained: 1960
Status: Guilty plea
Died: 2/11/2005
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father James R. Porter was a priest in the Diocese of Fall River with a deeply troubling history of sexual abuse spanning multiple states, including Massachusetts, New Mexico, Minnesota, and Texas. He was laicized in 1974, married, and had four children. Over the years, Porter was named in numerous civil suits brought by survivors of his sexual abuse across multiple states. He has been accused of sexually abusing hundreds of children in parishes and other settings throughout his assignments. In 1993, Porter pleaded guilty in Massachusetts to sexually assaulting 28 children and was sentenced to 18 to 20 years in prison. More than 100 claims were ultimately settled across multiple jurisdictions, reflecting the extensive scope of his conduct. Porter died in February 2005 while incarcerated.
Ordained: 1953
Status: Accused
Died: 6/14/1996
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Justin J. Quinn served as a parish priest in the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, and as athletic director at the former Holy Family High School in New Bedford. He also worked at St. Mary’s Home for Children, where he was described in his obituary as a “father figure to many children.” Despite these roles of trust and access to young people, Quinn was credibly accused of the sexual abuse of minors, leading to his inclusion on the Diocese of Fall River’s official list of credibly accused clergy in January 2021. He passed away on June 14, 1996.
Ordained: 1966
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Raymond A. Robillard served within the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. His name appeared on a list of 21 priests accused of sexual abuse released in September 2002 by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. That list identified two alleged victims; the DA noted that their claims fell outside the statute of limitations at that time. In 1995, Robillard left his position as chaplain at the Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Home and assumed a role as assistant diocesan archivist, effective immediately.
Ordained: 1946
Status: Accused
Died: 1/31/2015
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father William J. Shovelton was ordained to the priesthood on June 15, 1946, and served for decades within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River, retiring from active ministry in 1993. In January 2021, the Diocese publicly named him on its list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.
Ordained: 1961
Status: Accused
Died: 1/2/2009
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Gilbert J. Simoes served as a priest within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River, with assignments that included St. Michael’s in Fall River, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in New Bedford, Santo Christo in Fall River, and St. John the Baptist in Westport. In March 1986, the Diocese suspended him and removed his faculties following allegations of sexual clergy sexual abuse. By the time the 1993 Catholic Directory was published, he was listed as absent on leave.
Ordained: 1939
Status: Settled
Died: 8/17/1996
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
According to court documents, a civil lawsuit filed on January 4, 2014, in Connecticut accused Monsignor Souza of sexually abusing two altar boys at St. Anthony’s Parish in East Falmouth, where he served as pastor from 1977 until his retirement. The alleged abuse was said to have begun in the late 1970s, when the boys were nine and ten years old, and to have continued until they were 17. The suit alleged that Souza transported the boys to various locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and elsewhere for athletic events and other activities, and that the abuse occurred during those trips — in hotel rooms, a church rectory, and his private residence in Taunton.
Ordained: 1968
Status: Accused
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Tripp’s name became publicly associated with allegations of clergy sexual abuse when it appeared on a list released in September 2002, on which the Bristol County District Attorney identified clergy accused of sexual misconduct in complaints to the Fall River Diocese. According to that list, two individuals alleged that they were abused by Father Tripp, though their claims were noted as falling beyond the statute of limitations at the time. In 2021, the Diocese of Fall River included Father Kevin F. Tripp on its official list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. Records also indicate that he was formally laicized in 2020.
Order: SJ
Ordained: 1967
Status: Accused
Died: 6/11/1986
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River MA
Father Wolf has been named on the USA Northeast Province of Jesuits’ list of members with credible allegations of clergy sexual abuse of a minor. The allegation, reported in 2005, is identified as having occurred between 1979 and 1981, during his assignment at Bishop Connolly High School. The Diocese of Fall River also includes Father Wolf on its publicly accused list, published in January 2021. The Diocese notes that inclusion on this list reflects publicly named allegations but does not represent an independent diocesan determination of credibility.
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