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Father John H. Flynn, Jr. served as a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston from his ordination in 1955 until his retirement in 1996. During his ministry, he was assigned to multiple parishes and served as a chaplain at Matignon High School in Cambridge, roles that placed him in regular contact with minors.
In January 2003, a civil lawsuit alleged that Father Flynn sexually abused a six-year-old girl in 1978 while he was assigned to St. Paul Church in Wellesley. Flynn denied the allegation. The claim was subsequently resolved through the civil justice system as part of a broader settlement with the Archdiocese of Boston in 2003. In October 2005, the Archdiocese reinstated Flynn after its internal review board determined that the allegation could not be substantiated. No criminal charges against Flynn appear in the public record.
Despite that internal finding, the Archdiocese included Flynn on its public list of accused clergy when it established that database in August 2011, pursuant to its transparency commitments under the Dallas Charter. Father Flynn died on January 30, 2011. The allegation remains classified as “unsubstantiated” in the Archdiocese’s records as of 2022.
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.
For sexual abuse survivors of Father Flynn, the Archdiocese’s internal process may feel deeply inadequate; a sequence of responses in which a civil claim was settled, an internal board found the allegation unsubstantiated, and the priest was reinstated, all within a system the Church itself controlled. It is worth noting that an internal finding of “unsubstantiated” reflects only what the Archdiocese concluded through its own review process, it is not a legal exoneration, and it does not determine the rights of survivors in civil court.
Massachusetts law may allow sexual abuse survivors to pursue civil claims against the Archdiocese for negligent supervision and assignment of clergy, potentially independent of what internal Church investigations concluded. Whether a civil claim is viable depends on the specific circumstances of each survivor’s experience, including timing and other case-specific facts. The attorneys at Herman Law can evaluate your potential claim and advise you on your options at no cost.
Each survivor who comes forward contributes to the public record and reinforces that civil litigation — not internal Church review — remains the appropriate forum for seeking accountability. Coming forward can also help protect children from sexual abuse within institutional settings more broadly.
If you or someone you know may have been sexually abused by Father Flynn or another member of the Archdiocese of Boston clergy, Herman Law encourages you to reach out. Our firm exclusively represents survivors of institutional sexual abuse, and we are here to listen.
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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