The Attorney General’s office released a scathing report this week that documents 270 Catholic clerics who sexually abused nearly 1,000 children across Fall River, Springfield and Worcester dioceses.
Abuse began long before 2002, but the watershed moment came when the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer‑winning series exposed the Archdiocese of Boston’s cover‑up, sparking nationwide investigations that revealed similar patterns.
The Diocese of Worcester said it would study the findings to identify further safeguards; the other two dioceses have yet to comment.
In the probe, AG Campbell referred three cases to district attorneys, resulting in one Worcester charge, but most incidents fell outside criminal statutes or expired limits, she explained.
AG Campbell, herself a survivor of a relative’s abuse, underscored that behind each statistic lies a shattered family and a scarred survivor—urging swift action.
The next step is Worcester’s review, while state lawmakers debate bills to remove civil limitation bars and strengthen child‑safety protocols.