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Father Real B. Bourque was a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) religious order and was ordained in 1954. Throughout his lengthy ministry, he was assigned to multiple locations including Boston, Massachusetts, Manchester, New Hampshire, Birmingham, Alabama, Portland, Maine, Washington, D.C., and Belleville, Illinois. Bourque first faced accusations in 1979 of sexually abusing male minors during the late 1970s while serving as Director of the Oblates’ center in Natick, Massachusetts. He was sent for treatment in 1979. Despite this, the Oblates transferred him in 1981 following notification of Cardinal Medeiros and the Oblate provincial, and he continued in active ministry.
Additional allegations surfaced in 1994 from a victim who had been abused in Natick, Massachusetts — a victim who had also known Bourque during his time as Director of a retreat house in Maine, where separate allegations of abuse also existed. That same year, Bourque admitted to abusing a minor and was sent for treatment again. Remarkably, despite this admission and treatment, Bourque was employed by the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) both before and after his 1994 treatment, spanning much of the period from 1993 through approximately 2002. During this time, he appeared on television and worked in youth ministry, giving him continued access to young people. Bourque died in 2014.
His name was omitted from the 2011 Boston Archdiocese database because he belonged to a religious order. He was included on the Diocese of Belleville’s list of credibly accused clergy in September 2022 and in a public report in May 2023.
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Survivors of sexual abuse by Father Real B. Bourque may be able to pursue civil claims against the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and affiliated institutions for a pattern of institutional failure that spanned decades and multiple organizations. The Oblates received allegations against Bourque in 1979, sent him for treatment, and then transferred him to a new assignment in 1981, after notifying Cardinal Medeiros and the Oblate provincial of the allegations against him. When further admissions emerged in 1994, Bourque was sent for treatment again, yet subsequently spent an extended period at the Eternal Word Television Network in a role that included youth ministry, providing continued access to young people after two separate treatment episodes.
Civil litigation may examine the decisions made by the Oblates and EWTN at each stage of Bourque’s ministry, including what each organization knew about his history when he was placed in roles involving access to youth. His assignments across multiple states and institutions, combined with his repeated admissions of abuse, make the institutional decision-making at each transfer and placement relevant to civil claims.
For survivors, civil proceedings may provide compensation for therapy, emotional distress, and long-term psychological harm. They may also produce a formal record that holds the Oblates and other affiliated institutions accountable for the repeated decisions that allowed a priest with documented admissions of abuse to remain in ministry and maintain access to young people across multiple decades and organizations.
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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