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Father Richard J. Butler was a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, MA, ordained in 1962. Over nearly five decades of ministry, he held assignments at more than a dozen parishes including Foxborough, Cambridge, Sharon, Rockland, Lexington, Brookline, Norwood, Stow, Melrose, and held a number of leadership positions in the archdiocese. He also served as a hospital and high school chaplain and held numerous leadership positions including executive secretary and chairman of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission, and director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate.
An allegation of sexual abuse of a child in Cambridge was asserted against Father Butler in a civil claim that resulted in a settlement. A publicly posted list from 2016 identified Butler as an accused cleric whose civil case had been resolved through settlement or arbitration. As of March 2016, the Archdiocese had not included his name on its public list of accused clergy, but his name was added by October 2018 under the category of deceased clergy for whom criminal or canonical proceedings were not completed but whose allegations had been publicized. Father Butler died September 30, 2012 at Regina Cleri, the archdiocesan residence for retired priests.
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.
For survivors of sexual abuse by Father Richard J. Butler, civil litigation may represent an avenue to pursue accountability, even when the accused clergy member is deceased. While criminal prosecution is no longer possible after death, Massachusetts law may allow survivors to bring civil claims against the religious institutions that employed and supervised the priest. These claims may involve allegations of negligent hiring, supervision failures, or institutional concealment of prior misconduct.
Civil action may provide survivors the opportunity to obtain financial compensation for the psychological, emotional, and spiritual harm caused by clergy sexual abuse. More importantly, these proceedings may compel the disclosure of internal church records, communications, and prior complaints that may demonstrate what officials knew and how they responded. This process promotes transparency and institutional accountability.
Survivors who come forward also contribute to broader public awareness and child protection efforts. Their voices help expose systemic failures that allowed abuse to occur and, in some cases, continue unchecked.
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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