Reports on Female Victims From Massachusetts

Spotlight Articles = 11/2   Other News Outlets = 100+

(list in progress)

THREE UNNAMED WOMEN Victimized by Rev. Robert V. Meffan during the late 1960's in various parts of Massachusetts.  Reporting for the first time on a priest who who preyed on girls, the Spotlight Team published a front page story and an interview with Meffan

From Google search performed on December 5:

News:  

Church's sex abuse cover-up in Boston exposed - The Scotsman - 11 hours ago
Outspoken Priest in Abuse Cases Rare - Austin American Statesman - 13 hours ago
Catholic leaders admit 'horrible' abuse by priests - Independent - 16 hours ago
New! Try Google News:
Search news for Meffan priest abuse or browse the latest headlines

More priest sex abuse allegations
... Meffan allegedly would tell the girls to perform sexual acts as a ... DRUG ABUSE CLAIMS
A 1992 memo from Mulkerrin to ... to being a roaming, fill-in priest to cover ...
www.msnbc.com/news/842886.asp?0si=- - 46k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages

FOXNews.com
... The priests are not targeted in the abuse lawsuit from ... Meffan allegedly would tell
the girls to perform sexual acts ... to being a roaming, fill-in priest to cover ...
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,72064,00.html - 36k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages

Boston.com / Latest News / Northeast / Church records show abuse ...
... Meffan allegedly participated in sexual acts with four girls at the same time ... We have
a policy that no priest with a single credible allegation of abuse of a ...
www.boston.com/dailynews/337/region/ Church_records_show_abuse_of_g:.shtml - 17k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages

Boston.com | Latest News | Region
... to other parishes even after accusations of child abuse. ... Meffan allegedly participated
in sexual acts with four girls ... being a roaming, fill-in priest to cover ...
www.boston.com/news/daily/03/abuse_files.htm - 35k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages

Newsday.com - Priests Accused of Drug Use, Sex Abuse
... The priests are not targeted in the abuse lawsuit from which the court order stems. ... Robert
Meffan, who allegedly recruited girls in the late 1960s to ...
www.newsday.com/.../wire/ sns-ap-church-abuse1204dec03,0,7312658.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines - 22k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages

USATODAY.com - Abusive priests stayed years
... is at the center of the national abuse scandal rocking ... the cases MacLeish described
is one of a priest who was ... Robert Meffan was urged as early as 1977 to get ...
www.usatoday.com/news/nation/ 2002-12-03-church-usat_x.htm - 27k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages

WBZ-AM: Local News
... to lawyers representing alleged victims of abuse by priests ... Robert Meffan, McCormack
appears to have acted quickly on allegations the priest sexually assaulted ...
wbz1030.com/massnews/MA--ChurchAbuse-McCor-gn/ resources_news_html - 18k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages
 

Priests Accused of Drug Use, Sex Abuse
... you should love him as a human being," Meffan is quoted as ... home in South Boston dismissed
the abuse allegations and ... to being a roaming, fill-in priest to cover ...
fredericksburg.com/News/apmethods/ apstory?urlfeed=D7NMPC900.xml - 34k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages

ctnow.com | Priests Accused of Drug Use, Sex Abuse
... priests are not targeted in the abuse lawsuit from ... is currently the bishop in Manchester,
NH Meffan allegedly would ... to being a roaming, fill-in priest to cover ...
www.ctnow.com/news/custom/newsat3/ ats-ap_top12dec03,0,7344877.story?coll=hc-headlines-newsat3 - 25k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages

AP story also appeared in heraldsun.com: Priests Accused of Drug Use, Sex Abuse; The Advocate - Priests Accused of Drug Use, Sex Abuse; Greenwich Time - Priests Accused of Drug Use, Sex Abuse; and many other papers.

News From The Associated Press
... AP VIDEO. Bishop explains church's approach to clergy found guilty of abuse Windows
| Real. ... Robert Meffan, who allegedly recruited girls in the late ...
customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/ CHURCH_ABUSE?SITE=ININS&SECTION=HOME - 31k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages

 

Poynter Online - Abuse Tracker
... According to the documents, Meffan allegedly assaulted young girls who were ... QuickLink:
A11591 Sklba apologizes to parishioners for abuse by former priest. ...
www.poynter.org/clergyabuse/ca.htm - 101k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages

CNN.com - Documents cash harsh light on archdiocese treatment of ...
... thousands more accusations of sex abuse by priests ... Burns permission to serve as a
priest outside the ... Robert Meffan told teenage girls and convent novitiates ...
www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/12/03/church.abuse.documents/ - 37k - Dec. 4, 2002 -
Cached - Similar pages

 

Christine Hickey     Victimized by Fr. James Porter in 1967 at St. Patrick's in Stoneham, MA.  Discussed abuse with Fr. Paul Shanley in 1993.  Shanley had notified the Archdiocese of Porter's misconduct with minors in 1967.  Porter and Shanley have both been jailed.

 New York Times: NATIONAL DESK | May 19, 2002, Sunday  p. A1   
A Priest's 2 Faces: Protector, Predator
By FOX BUTTERFIELD with JENNY HONTZ   (NYT) 3108 words

Woman ponders the dark side of a girlhood idol
Boston Herald; Boston, Mass.; Apr 9, 2002; Margery Eagan; 774 words + picture

Susan E. Gallagher  Victimized by Fr. Frank Nugent, Salesians of Don Bosco, 1972?-1978, mostly in NJ, but also in MA, NY, VT, and Canada.  Fr. Nugent supervised overnight retreats for teenagers at the Sacred Heart Retreat House in Ipswich, MA from 1981 until he was treated for pedophilia in 1995.  According to the Salesians, Fr. Nugent is now being held at an undisclosed location under the constant supervision of two other priests.

New York Times METROPOLITAN DESK | April 11, 2002, Thursday    
Abuse Victim Is Suspicious About Timing Of Apology
By ANDY NEWMAN   (NYT)     1396 words
 3 pictures

Suit Alleges Sex Abuse by Priest, Brother at Salesian Seminary

By Gary Stern THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: October 1, 2002) 946 words http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/100102/01salesians.html

Critics of Vatican Say Girls Forgotten; Ban on Gay Priests Called off the Mark
Boston Herald; Boston, Mass.; Nov 7, 2002; Robin Washington Words in Document: 610

 

Orders' Decision vs. Mandated Defrocking Sparks Fury, Boston Herald; Boston, Mass.; Aug 12, 2002; Robin Washington; Words in Document: 562

 

No More Settlement Silence; Worcester Diocese Lifts Gag Orders
Boston Herald; Boston, Mass.; May 10, 2002; ROBIN WASHINGTON 896 Words
 

Joyce Nebush Victimized by Rev. Robert S. Kaszinski, St. Stanislaus parish in Fall River, MA, during the 1960’s.  The Fall River Diocese issued a press release expressing regret on June 20, 2002.

Priest's accuser still waiting for apology
By Steve Urbon, Standard-Times senior correspondent  557 words, picture

Woman says local priest abused her
Accuses ex-Fall River pastor of molesting her as a teen

By Steve Urbon, Standard-Times senior correspondent  1,094 words, p. A1

 http://www.s-t.com/daily/06-02/06-18-02/a01lo003.htm

 DA's office interviews priest's accuser
By Steve Urbon, Standard-Times senior correspondent  703 words, picture

http://www.s-t.com/daily/07-02/07-02-02/a01lo002.htm

DA Takes Bishop to Task
Diocese denies being slow to disclose allegations against ex-priests

By Steve Urbon, Standard-Times senior correspondent 1,666 words, picture, p. A1

http://www.s-t.com/daily/09-02/09-27-02/a01lo002.htm

 

Victim’s name withheld, case mentioned once in Globe in story on another subject.  Victim allegedly abused at St. Mary’s parish, Norton, MA during the 1960’s by Rev. Donald Bowen.  Bowen was charged with indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and one count of committing an unnatural and lascivious act in Bristol Superior Court on October 4, 2002.

Retired Priest Returns to Massachusetts to Face Abuse Charges
Oct 02, 04:46 http://www.abc6.com/article.php?ID=1496  ABC6 News

Former Norton Priest Faces Sex-Abuse Charges

Prosecutors Want Accused Priest Returned To United States

News Channel 10, September 26, 2002

Priest Declares His Innocence in 30-year-old Molest Case
Boston Herald; Boston, Mass.; Oct 2, 2002; ERIC CONVEY; 202 words

Former St. Mary's priest pleads innocent to abuse charges
By Eric Convey And Tom Mashberg / Boston Herald
Friday, October 4, 2002  Also published in Norton Mirror TownOnline.com

http://www.townonline.com/norton/news/local_regional/nm_newnmbowen10042002.htm

Priest Faces Indictment The Sun Chronicle News September 26, 2002

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/September/26-3574-city1.txt

EDITORIAL: Bowen case shows how danger lingers The Sun Chronicle News April 30, 2002 http://www.thesunchronicle.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/April/30-3341-opinion1.txt

Priest Pleads Not Guilty To Sex Charges NEW BEDFORD, Mass., 8:02 p.m. EDT October 1, 2002  MSNBC News 183 Words, Abstract? Picture

 TheBostonChannel.com - Midday Call-In - Priest Pleads Not Guilty ...
... guilty. The Rev. Donald Bowen is accused of molesting the girl over
a 6-year period, beginning in 1965 when the girl was 9 years old. ...
www.thebostonchannel.com/middaycallin/ 1697873/detail.html - 45k - Cached - Similar pages

Priest declares his innocence in 30-year-old molest case
Boston Herald; Boston, Mass.; Oct 2, 2002; ERIC CONVEY 290 words

 

Debbie A. Doucet and Nicole Cormier, sisters

Heather Mackey, Cindy Desrosiers

Adrian Walker, a Globe columnist, not a member of the Spotlight Team, wrote about the case of Rev. Robert E. Kelly on 9/23/02.  Walker quoted Cindy Desrosiers, who won a suit against the Worcester Diocese that charged that Kelley had repeatedly molested her over many months.  Eileen McNamara, a Globe columnist who is also not a Spotlight reporter, wrote a column on Kelley on 6/16/2002.  While Walker's column was added to the Spotlight Series web site on the day that it was published, McNamara's June column was added on November 28.  Note that both of these columnists had to look beyond the Globe for information on Kelley since he has never been the subject of any article written by Spotlight reporters.

Kelley, who has admitted to raping between 50 and 100 girls, is mentioned in five Spotlight articles, none of which focus on his case. 

Some priests allegedly abused confession info
[1st Edition] ROBIN WASHINGTON; Boston Herald; Jul 1, 2002; pg. 001

3 Women Sue Leominster Priests, Diocese

Thursday, May 9, 2002  By Kathleen A. Shaw Telegram & Gazette Staff

http://www.telegram.com/crisisinthechurch/050902.html

Kelley Charged in '90 Rape  Thursday, July 25, 2002  By Richard Nangle, Telegram & Gazette Staff

http://www.telegram.com/crisisinthechurch/072502a.html

Kelley Says He Abused Dozens of Young Girls By Kathleen A. Shaw, Telegram & Gazette

Saturday, May 11, 2002

Priest Faces New Rape Case, Tuesday, May 7, 2002  By Kathleen A. Shaw, Telegram & Gazette Staff http://www.telegram.com/crisisinthechurch/050702.html

There are many other stories in the Worcester Telegram Gazette.

Diocese Sued over Kelley By Fred Hurlbrink Jr.

http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/Stories/0,1413,106%257E4992%257E708570,00.html?search=filter

Former Priest Charged in Girl's Rape THE ASSOCIATED PRESS  Cape Cod Times, 5/17/02 http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/archives/2002/may/17/formerpriest17.htm

Five Women Sue Massachusetts Diocese By Elizabeth Mehren, 7/14/02, Women's E-News

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/972/context/cover/

 

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/churchcrisis/1510993/detail.html

 

Ex-priest pleads innocent to rape

May 16, 2002 Posted: 8:37 PM EDT (0037 GMT)

http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/05/16/expriest.arraigned/

 

Cynthia Yerrick

 

The Truth, and My Voice

Statement by Survivor and Activist Cynthia Yerrick, 1999

Judge Orders Diocese to Adhere to the Law

(BOSTON - By Alison Fitzgerald, Associated Press - July 1999)

 Time for reality check   Tuesday, May 7, 2002

By Dianne Williamson, Telegram & Gazette Staff

 

Other female victims From Massachusetts who have been interviewed extensively by various media organizations

 Ann Hagan Webb, Co-Director of New England SNAP (Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests) Victimized by Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis from 1957 until 1965 in West Warwick, RI. 

Susan Renehan, advocate and survivor, member of Coalition of Catholics and Survivors, SNAP, Survivors First.  Spoke at Voice of the Faithful Conference in June, 2002.