Priest with Braintree Connection Denies Sexual Abuse Allegations in Plymouth
By Casey Meserve
The lawyer for a Plymouth priest placed on leave by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston pending an investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse dating to the early 1980s said his client has been wrongly accused. William Sullivan, the lawyer who represents the Rev. James E. Braley, said the charge is “unsupported, inaccurate and untruthful.” Sullivan said Braley, who served in Braintree at Archbishop Williams High School in the 1980s, was shocked to learn of the allegation and wants to clear his name. He said that Braley has received support from his parishioners. While he is on leave, the 62-year-old Braley is not allowed to present himself as a priest or perform any of the duties of a priest. He is also not allowed to live at the rectory, according to WATD. Braley has served as parish priest in Plymouth since 2001. Prior to Plymouth, Braley served at parishes in Braintree, Cambridge, Salem, Lynn and Marblehead, according to The Salem News. Braley served at St. Peter Parish, Cambridge, from 1975 to '81 and at Archbishop Williams from 1981 to '86. He was assigned to St. James Parish, Salem, from 1986 to '90; St. Mary's, Lynn, from 1990 to '94; and Our Lady Star of the Sea, Marblehead, in 1994, according to the Archdiocese of Boston. Braley, who has been in Plymouth since 2001, was placed on administrative leave over the weekend after the archdiocese received the allegation. The alleged abuse occurred in the early 1980s, according to the archdiocese. The Archdiocese said, in a press release, that civil authorities were immediately notified when they learned of the allegations. Parishioners of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha have vehemently defended their pastor.
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