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Father John Bocciarelli was a member of the Missionaries of St. Charles (CS) religious order and was ordained in 1945. He served in the Archdiocese of Boston for many years before returning to Italy in the mid-1990s. In 1997, the Archdiocese received a report alleging that Bocciarelli had sexually abused a young boy in the late 1960s.
According to the report, Bocciarelli performed oral sex on the victim when the child was only 9 or 10 years old. The same survivor also reported abuse by another priest, Father Joseph Fugolo, during the same time period. Documents produced by the Archdiocese include internal memos describing these allegations.
By the time the allegation surfaced, Bocciarelli had already left the United States and returned to Italy, either in 1995 or 1997 according to his obituary. He died on April 19, 1998, in Arco, Italy. Notably, Bocciarelli’s name was omitted from the 2011 Boston Archdiocese database of accused priests, possibly because he belonged to a religious order rather than being a diocesan priest directly under archdiocesan authority.
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Survivors of sexual abuse by Father John Bocciarelli may be able to pursue civil claims against the Archdiocese of Boston and the Missionaries of St. Charles for institutional failures connected to his assignments in the Boston area. The Archdiocese received an allegation in 1997 describing sexual abuse of a nine or ten year old child in the late 1960s, and internal memos documenting those allegations reflect that archdiocesan officials processed the report and maintained records of it. Civil litigation may examine what steps were taken in response to that 1997 report and what supervision the Archdiocese and the Missionaries of St. Charles provided during Bocciarelli’s years of active ministry.
Bocciarelli’s omission from the 2011 Archdiocesan database, attributed to his membership in a religious order, does not eliminate the institutional responsibility of either the Archdiocese or the Missionaries of St. Charles for his supervision and placement. The fact that he had already returned to Italy by the time the allegation was received in 1997 raises additional questions about what both institutions knew about his conduct prior to his departure and what actions were taken.
For survivors, civil cases may provide compensation for therapy, emotional distress, and long-term psychological harm, while also producing a formal record that holds both the Archdiocese and the Missionaries of St. Charles accountable for their respective supervisory responsibilities during Bocciarelli’s ministry in the Boston area.
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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