BishopAccountability.org
 
  Boston Lawyer Lists Church's Accused Abusers

WHDH
January 19, 2011

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/12003313767461/boston-lawyer-to-list-church-s-accused-abusers/

BOSTON -- A Boston Lawyer took aim at the Catholic Church on Wednesday. He published an online list of priests and other people affiliated with the Catholic Church who have been accused of molesting children.

“I’m 53-years-old and I was molested at the age of 12…at St. Ann’s Church in Dorchester,” said William Oberle.

Oberle said the Boston Archdiocese settled the sex abuse case he brought against his childhood priest, but now he and his lawyer, Mitchell Garabedian, want the names of all Boston area clerics who allegedly abused children.

“It is time to end the secrecy. The secrecy is harmful to children,” said Mitchell Garabedian.

Robert Perron, another alleged victim, says he has no idea where the Catholic priest is who allegedly abused him as a child. But Garabedian, is trying to change that by posting on his website the names of 117 priests and church employees who he says sexually abused children.

Garabedian, who has represented hundreds of abuse victims, announced the names of more than 100 alleged abusers that are - or were - affiliated with the Catholic Church.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Garabedian - who was accompanied by a few victims - announced that he set up that website that listed the names of those 117 priests or Catholic Church employees who he says he’s brought claims against as pedophiles.

Eighteen of the people on the list are among people the Archdiocese of Boston said he’s never named.

“You have…the most moral institution in the world acting the most immorally. Who is protecting the children? They are protecting the pedophiles. The church is protecting the pedophiles,” said Garabedian.

Garabedian said he released the names because the Boston Archdiocese, after promising transparency, won’t.

“Coming forward with these names - to releasing these names - the names of pedophile priests, helps validate, helps victims feel a sense of validation,” said Garabedian on Wednesday. “It helps them gain a degree of closure, hopefully. It protects innocent children. And it’s a societal obligation - the public must know.”

“I think it’s about time the names were released. It’s a long time coming. People should be aware of what’s happening out there,” said Perron.

The Boston Archdiocese released at statement. In part the Archdiocese said: “We remain committed to augmenting our present policy in the area of disclosing additional information about credibly accused clergy. At this time, out work on this important undertaking is ongoing.”

Garabedian said people don’t know where many of the alleged abusers are right now. He said at least one of them is still connected with and working with the Catholic Church in New York.

“There is never any closure. I’m going to live with this until the day I die,” said William Oberle, an alleged victim.

The Archdiocese released another statement saying since 2003 Cardinal O'Malley has settled approximately 800 claims or sexual abuse, and anyone with new information is urged to come forward.

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.