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Father Paul J. Finegan was a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston who served in parish ministry in pastoral capacities that brought him into regular contact with minors and young parishioners. Over the course of his ministry, he held positions across multiple parishes within the Archdiocese that afforded him unsupervised access to children and adolescents.
Sexual abuse allegations regarding Father Finegan first surfaced in 1980, when he was accused of sexually abusing two girls. A renewed complaint was raised in 1989 regarding the same individuals, with additional details describing skin-to-skin sexual contact and identifying three other possible victims. Records indicate that he received treatment at Southdown Institute before being returned to ministry. In 2002, he was removed from active service after a nun reported to Cardinal Law that a credible young man had disclosed that he had been sexually abused as a minor.
Further allegations emerged in 2009, when a woman filed a police report alleging sexual abuse that occurred while she worked in a parish rectory as a young teenager. Father Finegan was voluntarily laicized in 2005, and his name was subsequently included on the Archdiocese of Boston’s official list of accused clergy.
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.
Survivors of sexual abuse connected to Father Paul J. Finegan may be able to pursue accountability through civil legal action, even where sexual abuse occurred or was first disclosed decades ago. Depending on the specific circumstances of their case, survivors may have pathways under Massachusetts law to seek civil redress, including potential claims against the religious institution that supervised and enabled the priest’s access to minors. Civil claims in cases of this nature often focus on allegations of negligent supervision, failure to remove clergy from ministry upon receipt of credible complaints, and institutional decisions that prioritized reputation over child protection.
In cases involving treatment and reassignment, litigation may examine whether Church leadership returned clergy to ministry despite known risks. Internal records, therapy reports, and administrative correspondence may be relevant to whether earlier complaints were minimized or inadequately addressed. These evidentiary materials may play a significant role in supporting claims of institutional liability.
For survivors, civil proceedings can provide validation, transparency, and a formal acknowledgment of harm. Many survivors pursue claims not only for compensation tied to psychological and emotional injuries, but also to expose systemic failures that allowed abuse to continue. By coming forward, survivors contribute to broader accountability efforts and reinforce the importance of institutional safeguards designed to protect children.
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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