Assignment Record– Deacon Mark C. Doherty

Summary of Case: Doherty was a seminarian of the Boston archdiocese 1989-1993. Just before his scheduled ordination, two brothers informed the archdiocese that Doherty had molested them when they were 13 and 15 years of age, on a camping trip. In 1994 a woman told the archdiocese she thought Doherty had molested her three boys. Doherty was denied ordination, left Boston and was hired by the Charlotte diocese as a teacher at a Charlotte Catholic High School. The Charlotte bishop knew of the allegations against Doherty, which had been deemed "substantial." Doherty was removed from his teaching position in 2003, due to the past allegations.

Sources:

• Crisis in the Church / Diocese of Charlotte, N.C., Deacon Was Hired over Law's Objections, By Matt Carroll, Boston Globe, February 5, 2003
• Files: Cardinal Tried to Help Accused Man Get Ordained, By Robin Washington and Tom Mashberg, Boston Herald, February 5, 2003
• Diocese Defends Decision to Let Former Seminarian Teach, Statement: Evaluation Said He Posed No Threat, By Ken Garfield and Howie Paul, Charlotte Observer (North Carolina), February 7, 2003
• Teacher Fired after Review of Allegations, Diocese Apologizes for 'Breach of Trust', By Howie Paul Hartnett, Ken Garfield, Charlotte Observer (North Carolina), March 6, 2003
• Deposition of Cardinal Bernard Law, Offices of Greenberg Traurig, Boston, February 3, 2003
• Boston Archdiocesan Documents Showing the Involvement of Bishop Richard G. Lennon in Abuse Cases, BishopAccountability.org, April 2006
• Records: State Police Warned Church, Patriot Ledger (Quincy, MA), February 5, 2003
• Bingo!, Charlotte Diocese Paid Nearly $500k in Abuse Cases, By Tara Servatius, Creative Loafing Charlotte [Charlotte NC], February 20, 2003
• Altered by Accusations, Former Charlotte Catholic Teacher Denies Allegations That Ended His Goal of Becoming a Priest, By Ken Garfield, Charlotte Observer (North Carolina), July 19, 2003

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This assignment record collates Doherty's career history with allegations as 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 Nov. 17, 2010.