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1 800 686 9921
Free CASE REVIEWS
1 800 686 9921
Father Paul Francis Manning was ordained in 1967 and served within the Archdiocese of Boston. In 1993, he was criminally charged with the sexual abuse of an 11-year-old altar boy. According to public reporting, another priest testified that he witnessed what he believed to be a sexual assault on the boy in Father Manning’s study at the rectory of St. Charles Parish in Woburn. A jury acquitted Father Manning in 1994.
Following the acquittal, he was not permitted to function publicly as a priest, and his faculties were removed in 1996. In 2002, a man and a woman came forward alleging that Father Manning had sexually abused them when they were minors. His name was included on the Archdiocese of Boston’s August 2011 list of accused clergy, at which time his canonical proceedings remained ongoing and he remained on administrative leave. He died on February 26, 2020, before any publicly available record indicates the church process was 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.
When criminal charges result in an acquittal, survivors may feel that their experiences were not fully addressed through the criminal process. Civil court operates under different legal standards than criminal court, and an acquittal does not prevent survivors from pursuing civil claims under Massachusetts law.
In cases involving clergy, civil litigation may examine both individual conduct and the actions of the institution responsible for supervision. Courts may consider how allegations were handled, whether restrictions were imposed promptly, and whether adequate safeguards were in place to protect minors.
Civil accountability may be pursued independently of both criminal verdicts and the outcome of church disciplinary proceedings. Massachusetts law also recognizes that disclosure of childhood sexual abuse is often delayed, and in certain circumstances, civil remedies may remain available to survivors despite the passage of time.
For many survivors, civil proceedings offer more than financial compensation. They create a public record, provide formal acknowledgment of harm, and offer a structured avenue for accountability — separate from both criminal verdicts and church determinations.
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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