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Father Paul M. Desilets was a priest who served in the Archdiocese of Boston and was accused of molesting at least twenty altar boys between 1974 and 1984 in Massachusetts. He returned to his native Canada in 1984. In 2002, he was indicted on charges of molesting eighteen altar boys during the years 1978 to 1984.
Desilets was extradited from Canada to the United States in 2005 to face charges. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to up to eighteen months in prison followed by ten years of probation. Prior to his release in October 2006, he sought to be excused from court-ordered sex offender treatment due to his advanced age and deteriorating health. He was permitted to return to Canada to serve his probation under the custodianship of his religious order.
Father Paul M. Desilets died in 2010 at the age of eighty-six. Because Desilets was a religious order priest rather than a diocesan priest, his name was omitted from the Archdiocese of Boston’s list of accused clergy published in 2011.
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 sexual abuse survivors who came forward in 2002, and the authorities who pursued extradition over three years, demonstrated that criminal accountability can reach across borders. Desilets’s departure to Canada in 1984 could have shielded him from justice entirely — their persistence ensured it did not.
Depending on the circumstances of their abuse and applicable law, survivors may be able to seek further accountability through civil litigation against the institutions that placed Desilets in positions of trust. The Archdiocese of Boston and the religious order to which he belonged may bear civil responsibility for his assignments, for the oversight provided during his decade of ministry in Massachusetts, and for any role they played in enabling his continued ministry following the alleged abuse.
Civil litigation is one means by which survivors can hold institutions accountable alongside individual perpetrators — and understanding your legal options sooner rather than later matters. If you believe you were sexually abused by Father Paul M. Desilets, an attorney can help you assess whether a civil claim may be available to you.
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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