A comprehensive state investigation released on September 30, 2026, documents that more than 270 Catholic priests abused nearly 1,000 children across three Massachusetts dioceses over the course of a century. The report, published by the office of State Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, concludes a multi-year inquiry into the Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester.
The investigation examined more than 300,000 pages of documentation and included interviews with more than 100 individuals, including survivors. The findings indicate that diocesan leaders frequently failed to respond to allegations of abuse. Instead of reporting accused clergy to law enforcement, church officials often transferred priests to new assignments, allowing the misconduct to continue.
A Culture of Concealment
The report identifies a “culture of reverence and indulgence” toward priests as a primary factor that enabled the epidemic of abuse. During the mid-20th century, priests were viewed with such holiness that they had easy access to potential victims. This dynamic allowed clerics to exploit their positions of trust without immediate scrutiny.
Administrative records from the three dioceses reveal a pattern of intentional concealment. Officials often failed to document abuse allegations or used coded language to hide the nature of the accusations. The majority of the known abuse occurred before 2002, a period that predates the earliest inquiries into the Archdiocese of Boston, which has faced separate scrutiny since that time.
The current investigation covers every Massachusetts diocese except Boston. Attorney General Campbell stated that “more than 270 Catholic clerics abused nearly 1,000 children over the course of a century in the Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester.”
Diocesan Responses
On the afternoon of September 30, both the Diocese of Worcester and the Diocese of Fall River issued formal responses to the findings. The Diocese of Worcester apologized for the harm caused and stated it would study the report to identify improvements to its child safety policies.
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, SDV, of Fall River, expressed deep regret over the details revealed in the investigation. He said he was “filled with sorrow” regarding the abuse documented by the state. The Fall River Diocese noted that it has since developed a “culture of protection,” which includes mandatory reporting of allegations to law enforcement.
National Context
The release of this report adds to a growing body of evidence regarding clerical abuse in the United States. Similar investigations have been conducted in other states, including Michigan, where seven dioceses were subject to comparable reviews. The Massachusetts findings underscore the long-term failure of church leadership to protect minors and hold abusive clergy accountable.
The investigation launched in 2019 was designed to uncover the full scope of abuse within these specific jurisdictions. By examining decades of records, state officials aimed to provide a clear account of how institutional practices facilitated the mistreatment of children. The report serves as a historical record of the failures that occurred within the Church hierarchy in western and central Massachusetts.