Assignment Record– Rev. Frederick L. "Fr. Fred" Barr

Summary of Case: Frederick L. Barr was ordained for the Boston archdiocese in 1976. He worked in parishes in towns across the archdiocese including Somerville, Quincy, Belmont, Wellesley, Townsend, Natick, Cambridge and Watertown. In August 2009 Barr was placed on leave after an allegation emerged that he had sexually assaulted a minor in the late 1980s. His status in August 2015 remains "Administrative Leave; Case in Process."

Ordained: 1976

Sources: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1977-2009)

• 'Father Fred' Gets Warm Reception in Watertown's St. Patrick Parish, By Jillian Fennimore, Watertown TAB & Press, May 16, 2008
• Former Natick Priest Faces Child Sexual Assault Allegations, MetroWest Daily News, September 1, 2009
• Attorney Says Church Needs to Do More about Recent Sex Allegations, By Dan McDonald, The MetroWest Daily News,
September 2, 2009
• Watertown Pastor Placed on Leave, The Pilot, September 4, 2009
• Priest Accused of Sexually Abusing Child, TheBostonChannel, August 30, 2009
• Watertown Priest Faces Sex Abuse Allegation,WBZ, August 30, 2009
• Watertown Priest Is Placed on Leave after Abuse Allegation, By Michael Corcoran, Boston Globe, August 31, 2009
• Former Parishes React to Watertown Priest Accused of Sexual Assault, By Fred Hanson and Meghann Ackerman, Watertown Tab & Press, August 31, 2009
• Boston Archdiocese Posts Sex-Abuse Database Online, By Joan Frawley Desmond, National Catholic Register, August 25, 2011
• Boston Archdiocese: 15 Accused Priests Had Worked in Somerville Parishes, By Andy Metzger, Wicked Local Somerville, August 30, 2011
• Publication With Respect to Archdiocesan Clergy Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Child, bostoncatholic.org

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Barr's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on August 27, 2015.