More than 270 Catholic clergy sexually abused children over decades, according to an investigation that found nearly 1,000 victims across three Massachusetts dioceses. The findings were released in a report by state Attorney General Andrea Campbell, infohub.kz reports.
The report covers the Catholic dioceses of Fall River, Springfield and Worcester. It is the first comprehensive public account of the abuse and the systemic failures that allowed it to continue for more than half a century.
According to Campbell, diocesan leaders knew about the abuse for years, but "too often they protected the church's reputation rather than children."
"Behind each of these numbers is a child whose safety was violated, a family whose life was changed forever, and a person who survived the trauma of this abuse and carried its consequences for years, and in many cases decades," Campbell said.
Most of the identified cases occurred before 2002.
The Diocese of Worcester said it will review the investigation's findings. In a statement, it said the report will be examined "to determine any additional improvements that can be made to assist victims of past abuse and to further strengthen efforts to ensure the safety of children."
Campbell said the investigation's findings show the need for reforms within the dioceses and new laws to support survivors. In particular, she advocated for eliminating the statute of limitations for civil claims related to childhood sexual abuse.
The large-scale scandal over abuse in the Catholic Church erupted in 2002 after an investigation by The Boston Globe. The newspaper revealed how leaders of the Archdiocese of Boston systematically concealed cases of sexual abuse by priests. The Pulitzer Prize-winning articles led to investigations in other countries and the adoption of a number of reforms in Massachusetts.