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Father Donald J. Keenan was a Passionist priest (C.P.) who served in the Archdiocese of Boston. In 1998, an accuser reported to the Boston Chancery that Keenan had sexually abused two boys in 1977 — one age thirteen and the other described as mentally challenged — at Keenan’s family home in Malden, Massachusetts. According to that report, Keenan masturbated both boys and allegedly insisted that they do the same to him. Keenan died on August 23, 1995, approximately three years before this accusation was reported.
Despite the serious nature of the accusation and the vulnerability of the alleged victims, Keenan was omitted from the Boston Archdiocese’s 2011 database of publicly accused clergy — a disclosure effort that the Boston Globe reported excluded at least 70 religious orders and visiting clerics. The omission means that individuals who may have experienced abuse by Keenan would not have encountered his name through the archdiocese’s public disclosure. The abuse alleged in the 1998 report took place at Keenan’s family home in Malden.
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.
Because Father Donald J. Keenan is deceased, criminal prosecution is not possible. However, survivors may have avenues within civil law to pursue recognition of the harm they endured. Civil processes can provide an opportunity for acknowledgement of abuse, documentation of trauma, and potentially financial compensation from institutions that may bear responsibility for oversight and protection of those in their care.
Civil litigation also allows survivors to create an official record of what occurred, contributing to a broader culture of institutional accountability. By pursuing civil remedies, survivors not only address their own experiences but can help expose systemic failures within religious organizations — failures that enabled abuse to occur and, in some cases, to remain hidden. Pursuing justice in civil court may offer both recognition of past harm and a path toward restoration, providing survivors with a legal framework in which to assert their rights and the seriousness of what they suffered.
If you or someone you know may have been abused by Father Donald J. Keenan or another cleric connected to the Archdiocese of Boston or the Passionist order, you may be able to take legal action. Contact Herman Law to speak confidentially with an attorney about your potential options.
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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