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1 800 686 9921
Father Edmund P. Charest was a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston whose ministry spanned several decades. In January 2003, a lawsuit was filed accusing Charest of repeatedly molesting a 15-year-old boy at Our Lady of Grace parish in Chelsea around 1971. Despite the allegations, interim Bishop Richard G. Lennon allowed Charest to remain in active ministry while the archdiocese reviewed the claims. Archbishop Sean O’Malley later placed Charest on indefinite leave on August 23, 2003. Two additional men subsequently came forward with claims that Charest had molested and raped them as boys. All three cases were settled by the archdiocese.
By May 2008, Charest was living in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, just steps from a private elementary school — still a priest in the canonical sense, though removed from active ministry since 2003. He was included on the Archdiocese of Boston’s public list of clergy accused of the sexual abuse of a child, released in August 2011. Charest was canonically dismissed from the priesthood in 2015.
His case reflects a broader pattern of delayed institutional action and the profound challenges survivors face in achieving accountability, particularly when allegations involve multiple victims over extended periods of time.
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.
Massachusetts civil law may provide survivors with avenues to seek accountability from the Archdiocese of Boston — not only for the conduct of individual priests, but also for the institutional decisions that may have allowed abuse to continue. In Charest’s case, the decision to permit him to remain in ministry after the first lawsuit was filed, and his continued residence near an elementary school years later, may raise questions about what Archdiocesan officials knew and when they acted.
For survivors who have not yet come forward, civil litigation may offer a path to add their voices to the public record and to pursue accountability for what they experienced. Charest’s canonical dismissal does not foreclose the possibility of civil accountability. Each survivor who steps forward may help establish the full scope of the alleged abuse and contribute to the historical record of institutional decisions that permitted it to continue.
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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