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Father Leonard Bacigalupo, O.F.M., was a member of a Franciscan religious order who served within the Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts. He was assigned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in East Boston. Allegations of unspecified sexual abuse at that parish, occurring in approximately 1969 or 1970, were reported in January 2003.
Because Father Bacigalupo was an order priest rather than a diocesan priest, his name was omitted from the Archdiocese of Boston’s 2011 clergy database, despite the allegations having been documented in personnel records and reporting at the time. His case reflects a broader pattern in which religious order priests accused of misconduct sometimes fell outside the formal accountability structures maintained by local dioceses.
Survivors who had contact with Father Bacigalupo at Our Lady of Mount Carmel or in any other capacity during his ministry are encouraged to come forward.
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.
The case of Father Leonard Bacigalupo illustrates one of the most frustrating dimensions of the clergy abuse crisis: the gap in accountability that can arise when religious order priests are excluded from diocesan reporting systems. Although Bacigalupo’s personnel file contained documented allegations of abuse, his name did not appear in the Archdiocese of Boston’s formal 2011 database simply because of his affiliation with the Franciscan order rather than the archdiocese itself. That distinction had no bearing on the harm experienced by survivors.
Massachusetts civil law does not draw such institutional distinctions when it comes to the responsibility of religious organizations to protect those in their care. Survivors of abuse by order priests may have claims against the relevant religious order, the local diocese, or both, depending on the nature of the assignment and the level of oversight exercised. If church officials or order superiors were aware of misconduct and failed to act, they may share in the legal responsibility for resulting harm.
For survivors who experienced sexual abuse by Father Leonard Bacigalupo or by another religious order priest working in Massachusetts, it is important to understand that the institutional label of “order priest” versus “diocesan priest” does not determine whether a civil claim is viable.
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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