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Father Robert H. Morrissette served in the Archdiocese of Boston and held assignments at St. Mary’s Parish in Lynn, St. Joseph’s Parish in Salem, and Assumption Parish in Bellingham. Archdiocesan personnel records and documents released in December 2002 reflect that, when confronted by church officials in 1984, Father Morrissette acknowledged engaging in sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy — conduct that church officials and contemporaneous press accounts characterized as sexual abuse of a minor. Archdiocesan records also documented additional reports of concerning behavior involving other individuals during his ministry. According to those records and contemporaneous reporting, Cardinal Bernard Law approved Father Morrissette’s transfer to Assumption Parish in Bellingham in December 1984 despite having received reports of the allegations against him.
In 1993, following a review by the Archdiocesan Review Board, Father Morrissette was removed from active ministry and placed on sick leave. His case was included on the Archdiocese of Boston’s publicly released list of accused clergy in August 2011, under the category for priests whose canonical proceedings were concluded through laicization — a voluntary process that, per the Archdiocese’s own published description, does not constitute a formal determination of guilt. Father Morrissette was laicized in 2005, completing his formal separation from the priesthood.
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.
Father Morrissette’s alleged conduct may have caused profound and lasting emotional and psychological harm to survivors. Civil litigation may allow individuals to seek formal acknowledgment of that harm and to pursue accountability — both for the individual actions alleged and for the institutional decisions that may have enabled them to continue.
In some circumstances, Massachusetts law may accommodate delayed disclosure by survivors of childhood sexual abuse, recognizing that trauma and fear can prevent individuals from coming forward for many years. Whether a civil claim remains viable depends on the specific facts of each survivor’s situation.
Civil litigation may allow a court to examine not only the alleged individual acts of abuse but also the broader institutional context — including questions about whether church leadership received warnings about a priest’s conduct and how those reports were handled. The scope and outcome of any particular case depends on the individual facts and applicable law.
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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