Fr. Harold Joseph Johnson

Ordained: 1949
Status: Settled

Died: 12/22/2009
Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston MA

A man wrote to Cardinal Law on 3/12/1992 alleging that Johnson sexually abused him as a teenager. After that first assignment at Sacred Heart in Weymouth 1949-1957, Johnson was sent as a ‘lend-lease’ priest 1957-1959 to St. Patrick’s in Charlotte, then in the Raleigh NC diocese (now in the Charlotte diocese). Boston put Johnson on sick leave in 1992 and sent him to St. Luke Institute. Johnson admitted reoffending as recently as about 1988. Boston settled with the survivor, who surmised there were other victims, for $40K in 1992. Johnson was retired in 1993 but allowed to say Mass in parishes. File released 12/19/2002. Included in the 3/5/2003 Boston Globe list of 48 Boston priests dropped from the 2003 Directory after abuse allegations. On the Boston archdiocese list 8/25/2011, noting Johnson was directed in 2004 to live a life of prayer and penance. Died 12/22/2009. Added to Raleigh and Charlotte diocese’s lists in 2/2020.


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