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Father William J. Cummings was ordained in 1968 and founded the Singing Priests, a charitable ensemble, in the 1970s. He died on May 21, 1994. In June and August 2002, civil lawsuits were filed alleging that Cummings had sexually abused children during his ministry in the Archdiocese of Boston. One lawsuit alleged that Cummings molested a 10-year-old boy at St. Catherine of Genoa Parish in Somerville, Massachusetts in 1982; a second alleged abuse during a youth group trip to New York City in December of that same year. Both lawsuits were later settled — one as part of the Archdiocese’s broader 2003 settlement with more than 500 claimants, and the other in a private settlement in December 2003. Personnel files related to Cummings were released in January 2003.
Because Cummings died before any canonical investigation was completed, the Archdiocese made no formal determination of guilt. His name nonetheless appears on the Archdiocese’s publicly released list of deceased clergy against whom credible allegations have been publicized — a list Cardinal O’Malley released in August 2011 as part of an effort toward institutional transparency regarding clergy sexual abuse.
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 William J. Cummings may be able to pursue civil claims against the Archdiocese of Boston. The Archdiocese has previously engaged with civil claims arising from Cummings’s ministry — including allegations connected to his time at St. Catherine of Genoa Parish in Somerville and to a 1982 youth group trip — and has publicly acknowledged his name as part of its documented history of clergy abuse allegations. The existence of prior settlements demonstrates that the Archdiocese has not been immune from accountability in connection with these claims, and additional survivors may have grounds to pursue their own.
Civil litigation may allow survivors to examine what Archdiocesan officials knew about Cummings during his active ministry and what supervision was provided during the years in which alleged sexual abuse occurred. Internal records, correspondence, and assignment histories may be obtained through discovery and could shed light on the institutional decisions surrounding his parish placements and whether concerns about his conduct were raised or addressed before his death in 1994.
Civil proceedings may also provide survivors with the opportunity to seek a formal public record of accountability — one that a private settlement alone does not typically create. This process can allow survivor experiences to be heard in a judicial forum and ensure that the Archdiocese’s supervisory responsibilities during Cummings’s ministry are fully examined and documented.
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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