“Charges against priest ruled unsubstantiated” & related articles

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boston.com

11 August 2012

By Derek Anderson  – Globe Correspondent

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston said Friday that a local priest was assigned to senior priest status with restrictions after charges against him of sexual abuse of a minor were ruled “unsubstantiated.” The Rev. John E. McLaughlin was placed on administrative leave in 2005 after a report of alleged sexual abuse in the 1980s. The new restrictions involve the priest’s ministry only being exercised with permission of an oversight unit of the archdiocese, with the exception of “sacramental celebrations with members of his family,” a statement from the archdiocese said.

Derek Anderson can be reached at derek.anderson@globe.com.

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Former East Somerville priest cleared of molestation charges by Archdiocese

The Wicked Local Somerville (Massachusetts)

Posted Aug 10, 2012 @ 05:08 PM

Somerville — A Somerville priest accused of sexually abusing a child 7 years ago has been cleared of the charge by the Archdiocese of Boston, but he will no longer minister at his old parish.

The Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Boston concluded claims of sexual abuse involving John E. McLaughlin of St. Benedict’s in East Somerville were “unsubstantiated,” according to a press release. McLaughlin was placed on administrative leave in 2005 and is now assigned the status of Senior Priest, which essentially means he is retired, according to Archdiocese spokeswoman Kellyanne Dignan.

The press release states that “Cardinal Seán O’Malley recognized that this matter took an unusually long time to adjudicate and prays for all persons impacted by these matters.” Dignan said the Archdiocese has examined more than 1,000 claims of abuse since 2002.

“Every attempt has been made to bring [cases] to an expeditious conclusion,” Dignan said. “But there are cases that take longer than we would like and this is one.”

The 2005 accusations were based on an incident the accuser said occurred in the 1980s, before McLaughlin arrived at St. Benedict’s in 1986. But in 2003, two adult men accused McLauglin of sexual assault at the church. In one of the accusations, a 40-year-old man accused McLaughlin of pawing his groin area and trying to kiss the victim while he was seeking advice from the priest about troubles in his family.

Both accusations were part of an $85 million settlement between the archdiocese and abuse victims, in which neither the church nor any priests admitted responsibility.

At the time of the 2005 accusations, parishioners rallied behind McLaughlin. According to a Journal article, more than 300 people showed up at a meeting to support him.

“This is nonsense,” said parishioner John Morabito as the crowd erupted with applause, according to the article. “That man is a wonderful person.”

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August 10 , 2012 – Archdiocese of Boston Returns Reverend John E. Mclaughlin To Ministry

 Archdiocese of Boston’s website:  Press Releases

(Braintree, MA) August 10, 2012…The Archdiocese of Boston today made the following statement regarding Reverend John E. McLaughlin:

“The Archdiocese of Boston today announced that a trial conducted at the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Boston regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against Father John E. McLaughlin has concluded the charge to be unsubstantiated.  Fr. McLaughlin was placed on administrative leave in 2005 following the Archdiocese’s receipt of a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor which was alleged to have occurred in the 1980s.  Fr. McLaughlin is no longer on administrative leave and has now been assigned the status of Senior Priest, restricted.  His restriction involves other matters not related to children.

7 Responses to “Charges against priest ruled unsubstantiated” & related articles

  1. Sylvia says:

    It took 7 full years to determine that the first allegations ( 2005) were “unsubstantiated” !

    But, what of the 2003 allegations from two adult males?  the ones which were part of an $85 million settlement “in which neither the church nor any priests admitted responsibility”?

    Do they not count? 

    Perhaps not…

    Note that the Archdiocesan press release makes no less than three references to “sexual abuse of a minor”  (emphasis added)

    And note that the Press Release stipulates that:

    “…Fr. McLaughlin is no longer on administrative leave and has now been
    assigned the status of Senior Priest, restricted.  His restriction
    involves other matters not related to children.”

    Why the restrictions?  What are “other matters no related to children”?

    Were the allegations of the two men deemed credible?  Were they substantiated or were they not? 

    Why the big secret?  

  2. p king says:

    *Father McLaughlin helped a woman who was being abused by her husband…Later, the guy with the power and control issues and his cohort decided to take revenge on Fr. McLaughlin …(adult male accusation)

    The accusation by the minor was sketchy at best and the accuser later went on record that he lied….

    Both incidents were investigated by civil authorities and Fr. McLaughlin was cleared long ago.

    The big secret is that the Archdiocese screwed up and failed Fr. McLaughlin

     

     

  3. steve andrews says:

    i remember and liked fr john… he was ” the huggy kissy priest “!!!!! he meant no
    harm it was all love. he helped me with money for food….. fr doucet was the par.
    vicar… once he left money on the door and the area drunk stole it… he came by
    did you steal his money? oooohhhh i wouldnt do that father! he was there another
    time – fr doucet hes sleeping on the stairs – hes been there for 3 days!
    he had a book to prove he wasant there that day. it hasant been the same since.

    the current ” pastor ” is fr lopez theyre all closeted never answer the phone
    keep the shades shut never open rectory door. hows that.

  4. steve andrews says:

    is fr john still alive? very old – prob in a home for retired priests like regina cleri

  5. Doreen Carroll says:

    I worked at St. Benedict’s School for 13 years. Father McLaughlin was a very caring priest , his heart was filled with love for all and the love for God. I have never seen a priest care so much for a parish .
    I remember bumping into him about 2 years ago at North Station as I walked along the city sidewalks. I called out to him” Father McLaughlin” he turned and I gave him a huge hug he said to me ” God Bless you” we chatted awhile It was so good to see him and to talk to him .

    • MC says:

      He did my wedding celebration I know for sure he did not touch this people i trust him with my children’s no way he was doing something inappropriate this people just want to take advantage of how to get easy money I feel bad for rev John he is a good priest!!

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