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1 800 686 9921
Father Joseph K. Coleman was a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston who admitted to sexually abusing two boys while assigned to St. Angela’s Parish in Mattapan during the early 1980s. A 1987 internal church memorandum authored by Rev. John B. McCormack — who later became Bishop of Manchester, New Hampshire — documented Coleman’s admissions and described the allegations as serious. Archdiocesan records indicate that the review board, convening in 1993 under a more stringent abuse policy, recommended that Coleman continue therapy and expressed concern that he may have abused additional boys beyond those whose cases were known.
Following his admissions, Coleman was sent for treatment at the Institute for Living, a psychiatric facility in Hartford, Connecticut. Despite his acknowledged history of sexual abuse, he was subsequently allowed to resume ministry at Catholic health care facilities. Cardinal Bernard F. Law personally welcomed Coleman back to the archdiocese in 1988, reassigning him as chaplain at Saint John of God Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospice in Brighton. Coleman later served as chaplain at St. Joseph Nursing Care Center in Dorchester.
In 1996, church officials discovered that Coleman had been celebrating Mass and hearing confessions at St. Lawrence Church in Brookline without authorization, and he was suspended from active ministry. In 2005, Coleman voluntarily sought and received laicization, removing himself from the clerical state. The Archdiocese of Boston’s official list of accused clergy, published in August 2011, placed Coleman in the category of cases concluded canonically through laicization.
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 survivors who were sexually abused by Father Joseph K. Coleman, civil litigation may provide a path to pursue institutional accountability alongside personal redress. Cases of this nature frequently examine not only the abusive acts themselves but also the decisions made by Church officials after allegations emerged.
Legal claims may explore whether archdiocesan leadership responded appropriately to Coleman’s admissions, the adequacy of the psychological intervention he received, and the rationale behind returning him to ministerial environments where minors remained accessible. Personnel files, treatment records, and internal memoranda often become central evidence in establishing negligence, supervision failures, or institutional concealment.
Civil actions may allow survivors to seek recovery of damages tied to long-term psychological trauma, medical treatment, lost educational opportunities, and other life impacts stemming from abuse. Equally significant, these proceedings create a documented record of institutional responsibility, preventing misconduct from remaining hidden within confidential Church processes. Litigation has played a substantial role in prompting policy changes, safeguarding protocols, and transparency measures within dioceses nationwide.
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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