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Father Robert D. Fay was a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston who took “health leave for a heart condition” in 1988 and subsequently worked as a real estate agent. In December 2002, a woman filed suit alleging that Father Fay had sexually abused her as a teenager during the 1970s and that he had provided her and others with alcohol and marijuana. That lawsuit was settled in 2003.
Personnel files released in February 2003 indicate that archdiocesan officials were informed as early as 1980 that Father Fay had been arrested in New Hampshire for “drunkenness and use of narcotics,” and that other concerns about his conduct with youths had been raised. He remained in ministry until taking health leave in 1988. His involuntary laicization was announced in February 2005. The Archdiocese of Boston included Father Fay on its official list of accused clergy in August 2011.
Father Robert D. Fay died in February 2009. In March 2023, a settlement was reached involving a claim that Father Fay sexually abused a male minor on at least ten occasions from approximately 1974, when the child was approximately eight years old, through approximately 1978, when he was approximately twelve years old. During that period, Father Fay was assigned to Incarnation Parish in Melrose, Massachusetts. The sexual abuse allegedly occurred in the parish rectory, in a small house behind the church used for CCD classes, and in a trailer in New Hampshire.
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.
Civil claims may allow survivors to hold both the offending clergy member and the supervising institution accountable. Legal proceedings can examine whether Church leadership knew of prior misconduct, failed to act on warning signs, or reassigned clergy without adequate safeguards — questions that the documented record in Father Fay’s case makes directly relevant. This institutional dimension is often central to survivor claims.
Financial recovery may be available for counseling costs, medical care, lost income, and emotional harm. Many survivors also describe accountability as equally meaningful. Civil action can validate personal experiences and create a formal record of survivors’ claims.
Litigation may also carry a broader public impact. Court filings and discovery processes may bring internal Church records to light, contributing to transparency and institutional reform. Survivors who come forward frequently do so not only for personal healing but also to help prevent similar harm to others.
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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