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Father George C. Berthold was a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, ordained in 1963. He faces credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.
A 2000 lawsuit accused Berthold of sexually abusing a boy in 1972 while he was assigned to St. Joseph’s Parish in Woburn, Massachusetts. The Archdiocese acknowledged it had learned of those allegations as early as 1999.
The concerns about Berthold’s conduct didn’t begin there. In 1995, while serving as dean of St. John’s Seminary’s undergraduate college in Brighton, he was accused of making improper advances toward a freshman seminarian. Cardinal Law dismissed him from that position — but two years later, recommended him for a teaching post at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina. The Archdiocese eventually withdrew his approval to serve outside Boston, and Berthold was removed from Belmont Abbey in 1998.
His personnel file was released in December 2002. In August 2011, his name was added to the Archdiocese of Boston’s official list of clergy accused of sexual abuse. He was also included on the Diocese of Charlotte’s list of credibly accused clergy, published December 29, 2019.
Berthold died in March 2020. His canonical case was never completed.
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.
Survivors of sexual abuse by Father George C. Berthold may be able to pursue civil claims against the Archdiocese of Boston.
The documented record raises serious questions about what Church officials knew — and when. The Archdiocese was aware of allegations against Berthold by 1999, yet his personnel file was not released until 2002 and his name did not appear on the Archdiocese’s public list of accused clergy until 2011. Earlier still, in 1995, the Archdiocese had direct knowledge of misconduct allegations involving a seminarian — and chose to recommend Berthold for outside ministry anyway.
Civil litigation may examine the full timeline of institutional decisions: what officials knew at each stage, why Berthold was permitted to continue in ministry and serve outside the Archdiocese despite documented concerns, and what records exist that were never made public. Internal correspondence, personnel files, and assignment histories are all tools that civil discovery may reach.
For survivors, civil proceedings may provide compensation for therapy costs, emotional distress, and long-term psychological harm — and produce a formal, documented record of the Archdiocese’s knowledge and response across the full span of Berthold’s ministry.
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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