Cathedral High School graduate finds validation after Springfield diocese hears her sexual abuse claim against late Rev. Karl Huller
Updated Feb 12, 2021;
Posted Feb 12, 2021
The late Rev. Karl Huller s photograph is seen in a screen capture from the website for St. Michael s Cathedral in Springfield, where he once served as rector and a meeting room at the Bishop Marshall Center was once named in his honor. In 2004, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield settled claims by two men who alleged they were sexually abused by Huller as students at Cathedral High School. In December 2020, the diocese accepted as credible a third survivor s claim that she was also sexually assaulted by Huller as a student there in the 1960s.
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.
Springfield Diocese plans continued reforms in handling of clergy sexual abuse claims
Updated Jan 03, 2021;
Posted Jan 03, 2021
Daniel Ford, left, a retired superior court judge, is chairman of the 10-member Task Force on the Response to Sexual Abuse within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield. On his right in this Dec., 14, 2020 photo is Jeffrey Trant, director of the diocese s Office of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance. (Don Treeger | The Republican)
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield will move forward in 2021 with a new bishop at the helm and building on reforms implemented under former Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski to better address how it handles allegations of clergy sexual abuse.
As a new bishop for the Springfield Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church enters, so too does the hope that renewed transparency will serve to better confront and mend the wounds inflicted by the churchâs lengthy history of systemic sexual abuse and cover-up.
The Rev. William D. Byrne, installed Monday to lead the diocese that includes Berkshire County, has done well to set a hopeful tone by ushering in a significant change already. The diocese will expand its list of credibly accused priests to include those who died before survivors brought abuse allegations, meaningfully acknowledging credible accusers heretofore denied seeing their abusers face a public accounting.