The Massachusetts attorney general released a near-200-page report documenting 900 allegations of sexual abuse across the Worcester, Springfield and Fall River dioceses over about 70 years. Investigators identified accusations against 275 clergy members after reviewing 300,000+ documents and the files of nearly 300 priests, but said the true scope may be larger due to underreporting and missing records. Most incidents predate a 2002 mandatory-reporting law, limiting prospects for criminal prosecution; the AG referred any cases still within the statute of limitations to district attorneys. The report includes survivor testimony, criticizes diocesan leadership failures, and recommends reforms to improve accountability and child protection.
Mass. AG Report: 900 Documented Sexual Abuse Allegations Across Three Catholic Dioceses
Aire Images/Getty Images - PHOTO: Stock photo of a priest giving communion.
The Massachusetts attorney general's office released a nearly 200-page report detailing 900 documented allegations of sexual abuse spanning roughly seven decades across three Catholic dioceses: Worcester, Springfield and Fall River. The report says the full scope of abuse likely exceeds what investigators could document because of underreporting and missing or destroyed records.
Scope of the Investigation
The AG's probe, opened in 2019, included interviews with about 100 people and a review of more than 300,000 documents. Investigators examined the personnel files of nearly 300 clergy members, including the dioceses' so-called "secret archives," as well as police reports, criminal and civil filings, diocesan policies and training materials, and media coverage.
Key Findings
Investigators documented accusations against 275 members of the clergy across the three dioceses. The report concludes diocesan leaders repeatedly failed to protect children: accused priests were often transferred between parishes without disclosure, reassigned after treatment without adequate supervision, or removed from ministry without transparent explanations. Allegations were not consistently reported to law enforcement, and in some instances dioceses or local authorities suppressed media coverage or avoided prosecution.
"Over decades, diocesan leaders failed to adequately respond to allegations and warning signs," Attorney General Andrea Campbell wrote in the report's introduction.
Legal and Practical Limits on Prosecution
Most documented incidents predate a 2002 Massachusetts law that made clergy mandatory reporters and criminalized reckless endangerment of children. Because of the statute of limitations and the timing of many cases, the AG found no new grounds for criminal prosecution in most instances. The office said it referred any allegations that might still fall within the statute of limitations to the relevant district attorneys.
Mel Musto/Bloomberg via Getty Images - PHOTO: Andrea Joy Campbell, attorney general of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, during the WSJ Health Forum in Boston, Massachusetts, Feb. 21, 2024.
Survivor Testimony and Impact
The report includes testimony from survivors who described long-term physical and psychological trauma that followed them into adulthood. Investigators characterized the historical access priests had to vulnerable children during the review period as having "catastrophic" consequences.
Diocesan Responses and Next Steps
The Dioceses of Worcester and Fall River issued statements expressing sorrow and saying they will review the AG's recommendations; Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha of Fall River said his diocese is carefully assessing the report and will continue efforts to strengthen protection. The Diocese of Springfield did not provide a public comment to ABC News at the time of reporting. The AG recommended a series of reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability, reporting practices, oversight, and support for survivors.
Context and Recommendations
The report draws a throughline from earlier revelations — including the Boston Globe's 2002 Spotlight investigation — to systemic leadership failures that persisted in multiple dioceses. It calls for concrete changes, such as mandatory reporting enforcement, independent oversight, better record preservation, full transparency about clergy discipline, and expanded support services for victims.
What happens next: The AG's findings increase public pressure for institutional reforms and may prompt further civil actions or policy changes, while any allegations still within the statute of limitations have been referred to local district attorneys for potential prosecution.
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