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1 800 686 9921
Free CASE REVIEWS
1 800 686 9921
Father Paul R. Shanley was ordained in 1960 and served within the Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts. He was defrocked in 2004 and convicted in 2005 of repeatedly raping a boy at his church during the 1980s, receiving a sentence of 12 to 15 years in prison. The allegations against Father Paul R. Shanley span decades and involve dozens of complaints, numerous civil settlements, and reported abuse of boys, girls, and adults.
Documented concerns about Shanley’s conduct appeared in diocesan records as early as 1967. Despite these reports, Shanley was assigned to parish work and special ministries until 1989. He was later transferred to New York and San Bernardino, California, where additional accusations emerged. Shanley was released from prison on July 28, 2017, registered as a Level 3 sex offender, and died on October 28, 2020, at age 89.
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 institutional record surrounding Father Paul R. Shanley represents one of the most extensively documented cases of clergy sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Boston. Concerns about his conduct appeared in diocesan files years before his departure from active ministry, yet Shanley continued in parish assignments and special ministries for decades. His continued placements, followed by transfers to other dioceses, reflect a pattern of institutional reassignment rather than removal — a response that survivors and their advocates have described as a failure to protect those in Shanley’s care.
Civil litigation connected to Shanley’s conduct examined not only his individual actions but the Archdiocese of Boston’s handling of complaints over many years. When an institution receives repeated warnings and responds by reassigning rather than removing a priest, survivors may have grounds to pursue civil claims not only against the individual but against the institution for the harm that followed.
Numerous survivors pursued civil claims in connection with Shanley’s conduct, and civil settlements were reached in many of those cases. For survivors who have not yet come forward, civil legal options may still be available. Laws governing civil claims for childhood sexual abuse have evolved in important ways, and an experienced team can help evaluate how those laws may apply to an individual’s circumstances.
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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