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	Scandal on the South Shore Sex Abuse Allegations against Priests South Ofboston By Ken Johnson Patriot Ledger (Quincy, MA) December 19, 2002 Rev. Gerald J. Hickey leaves as pastor in 1994 after settling with an attorney in a child molestation case. Two nephews claim he molested them for years; one notified the archdiocese in 1992 and the other made notification this year. [Correction: He was accused by a nephew of sexual abuse and the Boston Archdiocese agreed to pay for two years of therapy. The nephew's lawsuit against him was later dropped. Another nephew accused him of sexual abuse this year.] 1958, 1978 December Retired Rev. Gerard E. Creighton is accused of molesting a teen girl in Boston in 1958. The archdiocese agrees to pay her $150,000 and pay for her counseling. In 1978, two Abington girls told a parishioner they saw Rev. Creighton having sex with their mother. St. Nicholas 1963-'93 February Rev. Joseph Welsh removed as pastor after allegations of sexual abuse of four boys, some at his family home in Plymouth. Braintree St. Francis Assisi Late 1960s April One of several alleged victims who claim Rev. Paul Shanley molested them files a lawsuit. In 1967 the church received a letter stating Rev. Shanley molested the boy in a cabin in the Blue Hills while serving at a Stoneham church. St. Thomas More 1950s and 1960s 2001 * The estate of the late Rev. William Morgan is sued by his nephew, who claims the priest raped him as a boy. He retired from St. Thomas in 1993. He died in 1999. Canton St. Gerard Majella 1980 May Rev. Peter Frost is accused of molesting a 14-year-old boy. St. John the Evangelist 1950s and 1960s 2001 Rev. Morgan, accused of raping his nephew, served here. 1950s and 1960s 2001 * Rev. William H. Morgan, accused and sued by his nephew in Canton, served at this church. Hanson St. Joseph the Worker Early 1990s January * Jay M. Mullin, who was assistant pastor for four or five years around 1990, was accused of abusing a child at St. Anthony's Church in Allston. He denied any abuse took place, but the church agreed to an out-of-court settlement. Hingham St. Paul 1972-'73 1997 37-year-old man files a lawsuit against Rev. John Geoghan for alleged sexual abuse. Early 1970s 2001 Two cousins file lawsuit claiming Geoghan molested them when they were altar boys. One man says Geoghan earned his family's trust, then preyed on him, his brother and cousins. The cousins allege Geoghan took them to Nantasket Beach and Paragon Park and molested them in his car. One victim alleges the molestation lasted five years. 1987 June Two former Hingham altar boys allege Rev. John Hanlon assaulted them in Vermont. Late 1970s, early '80s July * Rev. Victor LaVoie suspended in 2002 because of an accusation of sexual misconduct against a minor. 1950s and 1960s 2001 * Rev. Morgan, accused of raping his nephew, served here. Holbrook St. Joseph School Early 1970s September Rev. Joseph L. Welsh accused of molesting a boy at school. Reported to archdiocese in 1993. Hull St. Mary of the Assumption, St. Ann (combined) 1966 August Rev. William L. Butler accused and placed on administrative leave. Accuser claimed Rev. Butler took him to the priest's family property in Canada and abused him there. St. Mary 1967-'68 December Revs. Robert Barrett, John A. Dunn and Leo Dwyer accused of repeatedly molesting boy while all three were stationed at the now closed St. Mary's. Kingston St. Joseph Mid-1980s February * Rev. Thomas P. Forry, accused of sexual abuse and assault, served here for 2 years in early 1980s. 1970s, 1980s March * Monsignor. Frederick J. Ryan removed as pastor and as head of Plymouth Vicariate because of an allegation that he molested three boys when he was chaplain at Catholic Memorial High School. Marshfield St. Ann by the Sea 1964 June Parents of an altar boy wrote a letter to then Cardinal Cushing reporting that Rev. Eugene O'Sullivan had fondled their son. O'Sullivan also faced several other charges, including some from his nephews. He later pleaded guilty to raping an Arlington altar boy in 1984 and was sentenced to five years of probation. Milton St. Elizabeth 1969-'94 December * Rev. Peter Frost faced multiple allegations over a number of years in other parishes. He admitted to molesting boys in 1969 and 1978, and described himself in 1994 as a "sex addict." Early 1970s August * Rev. Paul J. Bolduc was an assistant pastor at St. Elizabeth's from about 1983 to 1994. The allegations against him preceded that period. Mid-1980s February * Rev. Forry, accused of assault and abuse, begin his ministry here. Norwell St. Helen 1970s and 1980s February * Rev. Gerald J. Hickey was removed because of allegations made while he was assigned to other parishes. Plymouth St. Mary 1980-'82 1992 Rev. John R. Hanlon was convicted in 1994 of two counts of rape of a child and two counts of assault with intent to rape a St. Mary's altar boy at his Scituate cottage in the early 1980s. He is serving three life sentences. Hanlon was also arraigned in Vermont on charges he sexually assaulted the same victim in 1987 at his Vermont chalet. Two brothers of the victim and three others also allege abuse. Quincy St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at Our Lady of Good Counsel 1979-'99 December * Rev. Thomas P. Forry, a temporary fill-in priest, causes two parishioners to flee Mass, saying Rev. Forry abused them as children. St. John the Baptist Late 1960s February * Rev. Daniel M. Graham, who reportedly admitted in 1988 to molesting a 14-year-old boy 20 years before, served here for 13 years before a transfer to St. Brendan's in Dorchester. He returned to Quincy in 1990 as pastor of St. Joseph's. In 1992 church officials received another allegation dating from the 1980s, but could not locate the alleged victim. St. Joseph Late 1960s February * Rev. Graham was pastor when he was suspended in February. He also was a regional vicar helping to oversee the operation of 17 Catholic churches in Quincy, Braintree, Milton and Randolph. Not available April Rev. Robert Towner's name was on a child molestation allegation list the archdiocese turned over to the Norfolk County District Attorney's office in January. The records were sent to authorities in New Hampshire. No further information available. 1979 2002 In 1996, a Rockland man received an $80,000 settlement from the archdiocese after alleging that Rev. Robert Gale raped him in 1979 in New Hampshire. Three Quincy families complained in 1979 to regional Bishop Daniel A. Hart in Brockton that Rev. Gale had sexually assaulted their sons in the rectory of St. Joseph's. St. Mary Early 1970s June * Rev. Ronald L. Bourgault, pastor of St. Mary's Church for more than 10 years beginning in 1988, faces a single allegation from more than 30 years ago. Star of the Sea Late1960s April * Rev. Shanley served as temporary priest in 1979, calling it his Squantum exile. No charges from this time period. Randolph St. Bernadette Before 1980 February * Rev. Paul J. Finegan was suspended and later resigned over allegation he molested a boy. He was also accused of abusing two girls in North Andover before 1980. Scituate St. Frances Xavier Cabrini 1973-'84 December Allegations against Rev. Thomas Forry include an 11-year relationship with a married woman, sexual abuse of her young son, and physical assaults on the housekeeper at the rectory. Stoughton Our Lady of the Rosary 1960s May *Rev. Daniel Graham, former assistant pastor later accused of child molestation, served here. In 1988 he allegedly admitted molesting a boy in Stoughton and other locations in the 1960s. St. James 1960s December * Rev. James D. Foley spent a few months here in 1996 after church-ordered, intensive psychological rehabilitation. Accused of having relationships with several married women, fathering two children and allowing their mother to overdose. 1997 December Rev. William Scanlan accused of raping a 12-year-old girl who was a member of his church. Ordered into therapy despite denying the accusations, he passed a lie detector test, and no criminal charges were brought against him. Weymouth Immaculate Conception 1960s June Rev. Ernest Tourigney was removed from duty in 1993 after he was accused of abusing two cousins. Another charge was made in 1994. At least three lawsuits have been settled. 2001 November * Rev. Frederick L. Guthrie, who arrived at the parish shortly after Rev. Tourigney, was arrested in November 2001 by a New Hampshire undercover officer for allegedly soliciting sex on his computer from a teenage boy. 1960s-'80s December Rev. Gary Balcom of Weymouth accused in a lawsuit of molesting a former altar boy over a five-year period. He admitted engaging in sex acts with eight or nine boys over 20 years. He was placed on sick leave in 1985, removed from ministry in 1992 and laicized in 1998. He died in October at age 55. Sacred Heart 1964 December Rev. Robert V. Meffan, a Carver resident, accused of molesting girls at a rented cottage on the Cape. At the time the girls were contemplating becoming nuns and Rev. Meffan told them a sexual relationship with him would bring them closer to Christ. Two of the girls entered the convent. Rev. Meffan retired in 1996. St. Francis Xavier 1979-'99 February * Rev. Forry, accused of assault and abuse, was assigned here in the 1980s 1976-'80 December Thomas D. Donnelly sued in February by a woman who accuses him of molesting her between the ages of 8 and 12. He left the priesthood in 1981 to get married, and denies the allegation. Whitman Holy Ghost 1969, 1978 December * Rev. Peter Frost was at this church from 1970-74. Accused in 1994 of abusing two different boys. North Attleboro, New Bedford, Fall River St. Mary's School, Sacred Heart, St. James 1960-'74 1990 James Porter, a former priest who was married and living in Minnesota, pleads guilty to charges of sexually abusing 28 boys and girls. He is accused by 99 men and women; 68 settle lawsuits. Now serving 18-to-20 year prison sentence. First major case in clergy sexual abuse scandal. * Allegations that occurred while priest was assigned to a different church. CORRECTION-DATE: December 20, 2002 CORRECTION: A chart in yesterday's Patriot Ledger listing sex abuse allegations against priests on the South Shore incorrectly reported information on the Rev. Gerald J. Hickey, who served at St. Bridget in Abington. He was accused by a nephew of sexual abuse and the Boston Archdiocese agreed to pay for two years of therapy. The nephew's lawsuit against him was later dropped. Another nephew accused him of sexual abuse this year. For more information, please see Page 17.
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