We'll Be Transparent on New Abuse Allegations

By Aaron Curtis
Lowell Sun
May 2, 2017

http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_30961850/central-catholic-well-be-transparent-new-abuse-allegations

When allegations of abuse at Central Catholic High School came out several years ago, a school official says they were transparent, accepted responsibility and addressed each case "frankly and honestly."

The plan is to deal with the latest allegations of sexual abuse the same way, according to Central Catholic High School Director of Communications David DeFillippo.

On Monday, a man claimed he was sexually abused by four Marist Brothers in the 1960s. The alleged victim, now in his 60's, claims he was abused by the Marist Brothers in the school when he was 14 and 15 years old.

"The school had not received prior information concerning these specific allegations and urges this individual or his attorney to contact the school too provide additional information so it can investigate this matter and attempt to assist this individual," DeFillippo stated in a release put out Tuesday that addressed the accusations.

Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who played a major role in exposing the Catholic Church sex scandal, and is representing the alleged victim, declined to share the name and hometown of the man.

Garabedian said that his client claims that he had notified the principal of Central Catholic of the abuse, but that he was only moved out of a class taught by one of his alleged abusers.

Robert Hoatson, a former priest and Catholic high school principal who left the church after speaking out about the sexual abuse scandal in New Jersey more than a decade ago, held a press conference outside the church on Monday.

The former priest said that Garabedian's client claims he was abused inside Central Catholic by Broher Michael Edward, a former athletic trainer and teacher; Brother Xavier Leonard Boulanger, a former teacher; and two other brothers whose full names were not released. Edward and Boulanger both faced previous sexual-abuse allegations and both are deceased.

"In 2002, Central Catholic had reached out to members of the general public who believed they had been harmed by Marist Brothers, offered to pay for counseling for the victims, and set up a toll-free telephone help line staffed by a professional conselor for reporting allegations," DeFillippo stated in Tuesday's release.

"We certainly intend to treat "John Doe" in the same fashion," he concluded.

Follow Aaron Curtis on Twitter @aselahcurtis.

Contact: acurtis@lowellsun.com