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Father William J. Cullen was a Jesuit priest ordained in 1965. On January 15, 2019, the Jesuits’ USA Northeast Province publicly named him on its list of members with credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. The allegation concerns abuse occurring in 1995–1996 while Cullen was assigned to Nativity Prep, a school for disadvantaged youth in Boston, Massachusetts.
The allegation was determined to be credible following the Northeast Province’s review process. Because Cullen died on May 25, 2010 — and the allegation was first reported in 2016 — no criminal proceedings were possible. His name was subsequently included on the Diocese of Fall River’s publicly accused list in January 2021 and the Diocese of Norwich’s list in February 2019. He had been removed from ministry in 2005, more than fourteen years before his name was made public.
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.
Survivors of sexual abuse by Father Cullen may be able to pursue civil claims against responsible institutions, which could include the Jesuit Northeast Province. The Northeast Province’s January 2019 credibility determination confirmed allegations of abuse occurring between 1995 and 1996 at Nativity Prep in Boston.
The timeline of Cullen’s case raises important questions for civil litigation. He was removed from ministry in 2005, yet his name was not made public until 2019 — a gap of more than fourteen years. Civil litigation may allow survivors to compel institutions to produce internal records and communications that shed light on what was known, and when.
Legal action may serve multiple purposes: holding institutions accountable for failures of oversight, creating a documented record of what occurred, and potentially providing survivors with access to compensation for physical, emotional, and psychological harm. Every survivor’s case is different, and outcomes cannot be guaranteed, but civil litigation has allowed many survivors to have their experiences formally acknowledged and addressed.
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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