The sexual abuse scandal in Springfield in Massachusetts diocese is a significant episode in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States.

Edward Paquette affair

Although he established the Diocesan Misconduct Commission in response to sexual abuse among the clergy, bishop

John Aloysius Marshall John Aloysius Marshall (April 24, 1928 – July 3, 1994) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Diocese of Burlington in Vermont from 1972 to 1992 an ...

accepted Rev. Edward Paquette despite the repeated allegations of child molestation against him. Marshall even said that he was "determined to take the risk of leaving aquettein his present assignment" despite "the demands of...irate parents that 'something be done about this.'"

Richard R. Lavigne affair

Richard R. Lavigne Richard Roger Lavigne (February 18, 1941 – May 21, 2021) was a laicized priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts and convicted sex offender. Lavigne was at the center of the priest abuse scandal in the Diocese o ...

was a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. Lavigne has been at the center of the Priest Abuse Scandal in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts with about 40 claims of sexual abuse of minors placed against him. The Diocese has paid out large cash settlements to numerous people purported to have been molested by Lavigne. He was removed from ministry by Bishop John A. Marshall in 1991.

Resignation of bishop Dupré

After thirteen years as Bishop, Thomas Ludger Dupré resigned due to unspecified health reasons on February 11, 2004. His resignation came one day after ''

The Springfield Republican ''The Republican'' is a newspaper based in Springfield, Massachusetts covering news in the Greater Springfield area, as well as national news and pieces from Boston, Worcester, Massachusetts, Worcester and northern Connecticut. It is owned by ...

'' confronted him with accusations of sexual abuse from two men who had known Dupré when he was a parish priest and they were

altar boys Altar Boys were a Christian punk band from California formed in 1982. The original members were Mike Stand (vocals, songwriting and guitar), Jeff Crandall (drums), Steve Pannier (guitars) and Ric Alba (bass guitar and backing vocals). Mark Rob ...

. Dupre was also accused by local clergy of covering up abuse charges against other priests, including

Grand jury indictment

On September 24, 2004, bishop Dupré was indicted by a Hampden County

grand jury A grand jury is a jury—a group of citizens—empowered by law to conduct legal proceedings, investigate potential criminal conduct, and determine whether criminal charges should be brought. A grand jury may subpoena physical evidence or a pe ...

on two counts of

child molestation Child sexual abuse (CSA), also called child molestation, is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include engaging in sexual activities with a child (wheth ...

. He thus became the first Catholic bishop ever to be indicted of sexual abuse.

Statute of limitation running out

The Springfield

district attorney In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or state attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a l ...

's office was forced to drop the charges against Dupré because the statute of limitations had run out. He then entered St. Luke Institute, a private Catholic psychiatric hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland. As of June 2006, he continued to list his residence as St. Luke's.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Springfield In Massachusetts Diocese Catholic Church sexual abuse scandals in the United States Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts Child sexual abuse in the United States Sexual abuse cover-ups Incidents of violence against boys