Former Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, pictured, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield is one of several people named as defendants in a lawsuit filed by the man whose sexual assault allegations against the late Bishop Christopher J. Weldon were found to be âunequivocally credibleâ by an independent judge. EAGLE FILE PHOTO
The former altar boy who accused a legendary bishop of rape â an account deemed âunequivocally credibleâ by a retired judge last summer â wants to be compensated for his suffering, citing inaction and connivance by church officials that, he says, exacerbated his pain.
In a lawsuit filed in Hampden Superior Court, the Chicopee man alleges that current and former officials within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, including former Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, engaged in a cover-up to protect the reputation of the late Bishop Christopher J. Weldon.
Bishop Weldon accuser files lawsuit against Springfield diocese
Updated Feb 09, 2021;
Posted Feb 09, 2021
Seen here in a January 7, 1976 file photo, the Most Rev. Christopher J. Weldon, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield from 1950 until 1977.
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A former altar boy who accused the late Bishop Christopher J. Weldon of sexual assault and whose claim was found to be “unequivocally credible” following a review ordered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield has filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for the physical harm he suffered in the 1960s and continued emotional distress.
The plaintiff, identified as “John Doe” of Chicopee, says he was between 9 and 11 years old when he was raped multiple times at multiple locations by Weldon and two other members of the clergy.