BOSTON, Mass., Oct. 1, 2026―Voice of the Faithful appreciates the diligence of the staff in Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office for their years-long work to document more than 1,000 cases of clergy sex abuse in the Massachusetts dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester. We also take note that in three cases where the statute of limitations on these crimes had not expired, they referred the abuse cases to local officials.
The investigation found evidence that more than 270 Catholic clerics abused nearly 1,000 children during the century it examined. Almost all of those crimes occurred prior to 2002, but failure of diocesan officials to respond to valid allegations during those years may well be a precursor of similar failures today, especially now that adherence to child protection guidelines has weakened. VOTF’s latest report on diocesan compliance with child protection standards and reporting requirements found an average score of 66% among the 177 U. S. dioceses monitored for compliance.
During the Massachusetts investigation, the AG Office reviewed more than 300,000 documents and conducted interviews with more than 100 individuals, including survivors, advocates, attorneys, clergy, diocesan officials and employees. Voice of the Faithful was one of those consulted during the investigation, and we provided the attorneys there with findings from our Protection of Children investigative reviews of U.S. Catholic Diocesan websites, with personal testimony regarding actions (and inactions) of diocesan officials, and with suggestions for outreach to survivors.
VOTF concurs with AG Andrea Joy Campbell that “No institution should ever put its own reputation and interest above the safety and well-being of its constituents, especially children.”
Dr. Patricia Gomez, who chairs the VOTF monitoring effort under its Child Protection Program, cited two key recommendations for Diocesan Review Boards:
- When an allegation of clergy sexual abuse is reported to a diocese, the procedure of formal investigation and notification of the allegation to the Diocesan Review Board must be clarified. These procedures must be consistent across all dioceses to avoid possible confusion and inconsistency in responding to allegations.
- Records of the diocesan board’s review and determination of all allegations must be documented.
In addition, Dr. Gomez reiterated key recommendations from VOTF’s reports on diocesan child protection programs:
- Background checks of applicants for positions within a diocese or parish are essential to ensure the safety of children.
- Mandatory abuse prevention education and training is needed to empower adults and children to recognize grooming behaviors and establish a culture of safety.
- Audits sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) of diocesan safe environment protocols must be enhanced, and the USCCB must enforce corrective measures for non-compliance.
- The USCCB also must enforce the mandatory publication of lists of credibly accused clergy, including current information on the accused person. An organization outside the USCCB should check that the lists are up to date, complete and accurate.
Also essential to child safeguarding is the continued monitoring of abuse prevention efforts at the local level. VOTF shares the Massachusetts AG’s hope for ongoing change within these and all dioceses to restore a stronger commitment to safe environments. But a key role in safeguarding children in our worship communities belongs to community members.
No matter what level of diocesan compliance to child safeguarding and safe environment standards prevails, children face the greatest risks at the local level. It is up to us, the parishioners, to ensure that safeguarding measures are in place and monitored.
Voice of the Faithful News Release, Oct. 1, 2026; contact Dr. Patricia Gomez (781-559-3360)
Voice of the Faithful’s® mission is to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church. VOTF’s goals are to support survivors of clergy sexual abuse, to support priests of integrity, and to shape structural change within the Catholic Church. More information is at www.votf.org.