Churchallowedabusebypriestforyears

AwareofGeoghanrecord,archdiocesestillshuttledhimfromparishtoparish
JANUARY06,2002
ThisarticlewaspreparedbytheGlobeSpotlightTeam:reportersMattCarroll,SachaPfeiffer,andMichael
RezendesandeditorWalterV.Robinson.ItwaswrittenbyRezendes.

Sincethemid1990s,morethan130peoplehavecomeforwardwithhorrificchildhoodtalesabouthowformer
priestJohnJ.Geoghanallegedlyfondledorrapedthemduringathreedecadespreethroughahalfdozen
GreaterBostonparishes.

Almostalways,hisvictimsweregrammarschoolboys.Onewasjust4yearsold.

ThencamelastJulysdisclosurethatCardinalBernardF.LawknewaboutGeoghansproblemsin1984,Laws
firstyearinBoston,yetapprovedhistransfertoSt.JuliasparishinWeston.WilsonD.RogersJr.,the
cardinalsattorney,defendedthemovelastsummer,sayingthearchdiocesehadmedicalassurancesthateach
Geoghanreassignmentwasappropriateandsafe.

ButoneofLawsbishopsthoughtthatthe1984assignmentofGeoghantoSt.Juliaswassorisky,hewrotethe
cardinalaletterinprotest.Andforgoodreason,theSpotlightTeamfound:Thearchdiocesealreadyhad
substantialevidenceofGeoghanspredatorysexualhabits.Thatincludedhisassertionin1980thathisrepeated
abuseofsevenboysinoneextendedfamilywasnotaseriousproblem,accordingtoanarchdiocesanrecord.

TheSt.Juliasassignmentproveddisastrous.Geoghanwasputinchargeofthreeyouthgroups,includingaltar
boys.In1989,hewasforcedtogoonsickleaveaftermorecomplaintsofsexualabuse,andspentmonthsintwo
institutionsthattreatsexuallyabusivepriests.Evenso,thearchdiocesereturnedhimtoSt.Julias,where
Geoghancontinuedtoabusechildrenforanotherthreeyears.

Now,asGeoghanfacesthefirstoftwocriminaltrialsnextweek,detailsabouthissexualcompulsionarelikely
tobeovershadowedbyaquestionthatmanyCatholicsfindevenmoretroubling:Whydidittakeasuccession
ofthreecardinalsandmanybishops34yearstoplacechildrenoutofGeoghansreach?

DonnaMorrissey,aspokeswomanforLaw,saidthecardinalandotherchurchofficialswouldnotrespondto
questionsaboutGeoghan.MorrisseysaidthechurchhadnointerestinknowingwhattheGlobesquestions
wouldbe.

BeforeGeoghanevergottoWestonin1984,hehadalreadybeentreatedseveraltimesandhospitalizedatleast
onceformolestingboys.Andhehadbeenremovedfromatleasttwoparishesforsexualabuse.In1980,for
instance,hewasorderedoutofSt.AndrewsinJamaicaPlainaftercasuallyadmittinghehadmolestedthe
sevenboys.

In1981,afterayearssickleave,GeoghanwasdispatchedtoSt.BrendansinDorchester,withlittlechancehe
wouldbeplacedunderscrutiny:Hispastorformostofhis31/2yearsthere,theRev.JamesH.Lane,hastold
friendshewasneverwarnedthatGeoghanhadahistoryofsexabuse.

InSeptember1984,complaintsthatGeoghanhadabusedchildrenattheDorchesterparishpromptedLawto
removehim.Twomonthslater,thecardinalgaveGeoghanafreshstartatSt.Julias.

LawallowedGeoghantostayinWestonformorethaneightyearsbeforeremovinghimfromparishdutyin
1993.ButeventhatdecisiontorecastGeoghanasafunctionaryatahomeforretiredpriestsdidnotpreventhim
fromseekingoutandmolestingchildren,accordingtothemultiplecivilsuitsandcriminalchargesfiledagainst
the66yearoldGeoghan.

Finally,in1998,thechurchdefrockedGeoghan,removinghimfromthepriesthood.

Geoghanscriminaldefenseattorney,GeoffreyPackard,saidhisclientwouldhavenocommentonanyofthe
allegationsagainsthim.GeoghansfirsttrialonsexualmolestationchargesisscheduledforJan.14in
MiddlesexSuperiorCourt.Thesecond,moreserioussetofchargesareduetobetriedinSuffolkSuperiorCourt
inlateFebruary.Inthecivillawsuits,Geoghanhasnoattorney,andisnotcontestingthecharges.

Thechurchslikelylegaldefense,asRogershintedinJuly,willbethatdoctorsdeemedGeoghanrehabilitated.
ChurchrecordsobtainedbytheGlobenotethatGeoghanwasindeedmedicallyclearedfortheSt.Julias
assignmentbutnotuntilhehadbeenattheparishforamonth.

In1984,therewerestillsomeclinicianswhobelievedchildmolesterscouldbecured.Butotherspecialistshad
longsincewarnedCatholicbishopsofthehighriskthatpriestswhohadabusedchildrenwouldbecomerepeat
offenders.

Whatsmore,specialistsinchildsexualabuseandattorneyswhohaverepresentedvictimssaid,itoughttohave
beenapparenttothearchdioceseby1984thatsomeonewithGeoghansrecordofhabitualsexualabuseshould
nothavebeenreturnedtoaparish.

InGeoghanscase,thechurchdefieditsownmostbasicvaluesofprotectingtheyoungandfostering
celibacy,saidA.W.RichardSipe,aformerpriest.Sipe,apsychotherapistandexpertinclergysexualabuse,
saidhehaslongbelievedthattheCatholicChurchhasbeentooslowtodealwithpriestswhomolestchildren.

TheSpotlightTeamfoundevidencethatoneofLawstopsubordinatesworriedthatGeoghanwouldcause
furtherscandalatSt.JuliasinWeston,wherehebeganworkonNov.13,1984.OnDec.7,BishopJohnM.
DArcywrotetoLaw,challengingthewisdomoftheassignmentinlightofGeoghanshistoryofhomosexual
involvementwithyoungboys.

Withinthenextweek,twodoctorsclearedGeoghanforparishduty,accordingtoanarchdiocesanchronology
thatisincourtfiles.Itreads:12/11/84Dr.[Robert]MullinsFatherGeoghan`fullyrecovered....12/14/84
Dr.[JohnH.]Brennan:nopsychiatriccontraindicationsorrestrictionstohisworkasaparishpriest.

ThefilesalsocontainapoignantandpropheticAugust1982lettertoLawspredecessor,thelateCardinal
HumbertoMedeiros,fromtheauntofGeoghanssevenJamaicaPlainvictims,expressingincredulitythatthe

churchtowhichshewasdevotedwouldgiveGeoghananotherchanceatSt.Brendansafterwhathehaddone
toherfamily.

Regardlessofwhathesays,orthedoctorwhotreatedhim,Idonotbelieveheiscuredhisactionsstrongly
suggestthatheisnot,andthereisnoguaranteethatpersonswiththeseobsessionsareevercured,Margaret
GallantsaidinherpleatoMedeiros.

Itembarrassesmethatthechurchissonegligent,Gallantwrote.ArchdiocesanrecordsobtainedbytheGlobe
makeitclearwhyGallantwroteheriratelettertwoyearsaftertheabuse:GeoghanhadreappearedinJamaica
Plain,andbeenseenwithayoungboy.Therecordsnotethatthenextmonth,AnotherletterfromMrs.Gallant.
Whyisnothingbeingdone?

FromtheJamaicaPlaincasealone,thearchdiocesestopofficialswereawareofGeoghansattractiontoyoung
boys,andhowhepickedhisvictims:TheaffableGeoghanusuallybefriendedCatholicmothersstrugglingto
raiselargefamilies,oftenalone.Hisofferstohelp,oftenbytakingthechildrenforicecreamorprayingwith
thematbedtime,wereacceptedwithoutsuspicion.

Thatishow12yearoldPatrickMcSorley,wholivedinaHydeParkhousingproject,allegedlybecamea
Geoghanvictimin1986twoyearsafterGeoghansassignmenttoWeston.

AccordingtoMcSorley,Geoghan,whoknewthefamilyfromSt.Andrews,learnedofhisfatherssuicideand
droppedbytooffercondolencestohismother,whoisschizophrenic.ThepriestofferedtobuyPatrickice
cream.

Ifeltalittlefunnyaboutit,McSorleyrecalledinaninterview.Iwas12yearsoldandhewasanoldman.
Ridinghomeaftergettingicecream,McSorleysays,Geoghanconsoledhim.Butthenhepattedhisupperleg
andslidhishanduptowardhiscrotch.Ifrozeup,McSorleysaid.Ididntknowwhattothink.Thenheput
hishandonmygenitalsandstartedmasturbatingme.Iwaspetrified.McSorelyaddedthatGeoghanthen
beganmasturbatinghimself.

WhenGeoghandroppedashakenMcSorleyoffathismothershouse,hesuggestedtheykeepsecretwhathad
takenplace.Hesaid,`Wereverygoodatkeepingsecrets,McSorleysaid.

Foryears,McSorleyhasbattledalcoholismanddepression.Andnow,astheplaintiffinoneofthelawsuits
againstGeoghan,McSorleyisbitter.TofindoutlaterthattheCatholicChurchknewhewasachildmolester
everydayitbothersmemoreandmore,McSorleysays.

ThelettersfromBishopDArcyandMargaretGallantwereamongdocumentsfoundbytheGlobeduringa
reviewofthepublicfilesof84civillawsuitsstillpendingagainstGeoghan.ButforallGeoghansnotoriety,the
publicrecordisremarkablyskeletal.Thatisbecausealmostalltheevidenceinthelawsuitsaboutthechurchs
supervisionofGeoghanhasbeenunderacourtorderedconfidentialitysealgrantedtochurchlawyers.

InNovember,actingonamotionbytheGlobe,SuperiorCourtJudgeConstanceM.Sweeneyorderedthose
documentsmadepublic.ThearchdioceseappealedtothestateAppealsCourt,arguingthattheGlobeandthe
publicshouldnothaveaccesstodocumentsaboutthechurchsinnerworkings.Buttheappealwasdeniedlast
month.Therecords,includingdepositionsofbishopsandpersonnelfiles,arescheduledtobecomepublicon
Jan.26.
Manydocumentshaveyettobeunsealed.
ThecardinalandfiveotherbishopswhosupervisedGeoghanovertheyearshavebeenaccusedofnegligencein
manyofthecivilsuitsforallegedlyknowingofGeoghansabuseanddoingnothingtostopit.Neverbefore
havesomanybishopshadtodefendtheirrolesinacaseinvolvingsexualmolestationchargesagainstasingle
priest.Thefive,allsincepromotedtoheadtheirowndioceses,areBishopsThomasV.DailyofBrooklyn,
N.Y.RobertJ.BanksofGreenBay,Wis.WilliamF.MurphyofRockvilleCenter,N.Y.JohnB.McCormack
ofManchester,N.H.,andArchbishopAlfredC.HughesofNewOrleans.Lawandthefivebishopshaveall
deniedtheaccusationsinlegalfilings.

NoAmericandiocesehasfacedascandalofsimilardimensionssince1992.Thatyear,intheFallRiver
Diocese,morethan100offormerpriestJamesPortersvictimssurfacedpubliclywithevidencethatPorters
superiorsincluding,inthe1960s,thenMonsignorMedeirosshiftedhimfromoneparishtoanotherasparents
learnedofhiscompulsiveabuse.

Since1997,thearchdiocesehassettledabout50lawsuitsagainstGeoghan,formorethan$10millionbutwith
noconfidentialdocumentsevermadepublic.

Plaintiffsinthe84pendinglawsuitsarerefusingtosettletheirclaimsaseasily,andthechurchsinternal
documentsaresubjecttobeingrevealedinthelitigation.Sothearchdiocesehasmovedaggressivelytokeep
informationaboutitssupervisionofGeoghanoutofpublicview.Oneexample:WhenLawwasnameda
defendantin25ofthelawsuits,Rogersaskedajudgetoimpoundanyreferencetothecardinal,arguingthathis
reputationmightbeharmed.Thejudgerefused.

OnDec.17,RogerssenttheGlobesattorney,JonathanM.Albano,aletterthreateningtoseeklegalsanctions
againstthenewspaperanditslawfirmiftheGlobepublishedanythinggleanedfromconfidentialrecordsinthe
suits.HewarnedthathewouldseekcourtimposedsanctionsevenifGlobereportersaskedquestionsofclergy
involvedinthecase.

Fordecades,withintheUSCatholicChurch,sexualmisbehaviorbypriestswasshroudedinsecrecyatevery
level.AbusivepriestsGeoghanamongthemofteninstructedtraumatizedyoungsterstosaynothingabout
whathadbeendonetothem.Parentswholearnedoftheabuse,oftenwrackedbyshame,guilt,anddenial,tried
toforgetwhatthechurchhaddone.Thefewwhocomplainedwereinvariablyurgedtokeepsilent.Andpastors
andbishops,meanwhile,viewedtheabuseasasinforwhichpriestscouldrepentratherthanasacompulsion
theymightbeunabletocontrol.

EvenMassachusettslawassuredsecrecyandstilldoes.ForalltheyearsthatGeoghanwasmolestingchildren,
clergymenwereexemptfromlawsrequiringmostothercaregiverstoreportincidentsofsexabusetopolicefor

possibleprosecution.Itwasonlyafterlastsummersrevelationsthatthearchdiocesedroppeditslongstanding
oppositiontolegislationaddingclergytothelistofmandatedreporters.Butthelegislationdiedincommittee.
Untilrecentyears,thechurchalsohadlittletofearfromthecourts.Butthathaschanged,aspredictedina1985
confidentialreportonpriestabusepreparedattheurgingofsomeofthenationstopbishops,Lawamongthem.
OurdependenceinthepastonRomanCatholicjudgesandattorneysprotectingtheDioceseandclericsis
GONE,thereportsaid.

SincemidDecember,theGlobehasbeenrequestinginterviewswithLawandotherChurchofficials.Butthe
answerwasdelayeduntilMorrisseyscalllateFriday,inwhichshesaidshewouldnotevenacceptquestionsin
writing.AskedifthatmeanttheArchdiocesehadnointerestinknowingwhatthequestionswere,Morrissey
replied:Thatscorrect.

Inpreparingthisarticle,theGlobealsosoughtinterviewswithmanyofthepriestsandbishopswhohad
supervisedGeoghanorworkedwithhim.Noneofthebishopswouldcomment.Ofthepriests,fewwouldspeak
publicly.AndonepastorhungupthephoneandanotherslammedadoorshutatthefirstmentionofGeoghans
name.
Afterordination,arecordofabuse.
ThereisnodisputethatGeoghanabusedchildrenwhilehewasatBlessedSacramentinSaugusafterhis1962
ordination.Thearchdiocesehasrecentlysettledclaimsonaccusationsthathedid,andthechurchrecords
obtainedbytheGlobenotethatGeoghanin1995admittedmolestingfourboysfromthesamefamilythen.The
unresolvedissueintheremainingsuitsiswhetherchurchofficialsknewoftheabuseatthetime.

Aformerpriest,AnthonyBenzevich,hassaidhealertedchurchhigherupsthatGeoghanfrequentlytookyoung
boystohisrectorybedroom.InnewsreportsafteraccusationsagainstGeoghansurfacedpublicly,Benzevich
wasalsoquotedassayingchurchofficialsthreatenedtoreassignhimasamissionaryinSouthAmericafor
tellingthemaboutGeoghan.BenzevichtoldhisstorytoMitchellGarabedian,whorepresentsnearlyallofthe
plaintiffsinthecivilsuitsagainstGeoghanandchurchofficials,accordingtoanaffidavitGarabedianfiled.

ButcourtrecordsreviewedbytheGlobeshowthatwhenBenzevichappearedinGarabediansofficefora
pretrialdepositioninOctober2000,hewasrepresentedbyWilsonRogers3dthesonofLawsprincipal
attorney.Then,underoath,Benzevichchangedhisstory.HesaidhewasnotcertainthatGeoghanhadhadboys
inhisroom.AndhesaidhecouldnotrecallnotifyingsuperiorsaboutGeoghansbehaviorwithchildren.

InarecentinterviewwiththeGlobe,BenzevichsaidhedoesindeedrememberGeoghantakingboystohis
room.HesaidGeoghanoftensoughttowrestlewithyoungboysandlikedtodresstheminpriestsattire.But
herepeatedhisswornassertionthathedoesnotrecallnotifyinghissuperiors.

Beforehisdeposition,Benzevichsaid,WilsonRogers3dapproachedhim,toldhimthechurchwastryingto
protecthimfrombeingnamedasadefendant,andofferedtorepresenthim.Hisearlierstatementstoreporters,
Benzevichsaid,hadbeenmisconstrued.

Garabedian,citingtheconfidentialityorder,refusedtodiscusstheBenzevichissuewiththeGlobe.The
churchsfinancialliabilityinthependingsuitscouldincreasedramaticallyifthereisevidenceGeoghans
superiorsknewofhisabuse.

Geoghanssecondassignmentin1966toSt.BernardsinConcordendedaftersevenmonths,accordingtoa
detailedchronologyofGeoghansservicepreparedbythechurchwhichdoesnotexplainwhytheassignment
wassoabbreviated.

ThependinglawsuitsincludeaccusationsthatGeoghanagainabusedyoungboysfromseveralfamiliesinhis
nextparish,St.PaulsinHingham,between1967and1974.Oneofhisallegedvictims,AnthonyMuzziJr.,said
inaninterviewlastweekthatinadditiontohisownabuse,hisunclecaughtGeoghanabusinghisson.Theuncle
orderedGeoghantoleavehishouse,andcomplainedtothepriestssuperiorsatSt.Pauls.

ThatcomplainttochurchofficialscoincideswiththetimeframewhenGeoghanreceivedinpatienttreatment
forsexabuseattheSetonInstituteinBaltimore,accordingtoSipe,thepsychotherapistwhowasonSetons
staffatthetime.SipedidnottreatGeoghan.

DuringhisassignmentinHingham,Geoghanfoundvictimsfarafield,befriendingJoanneMueller,asingle
motheroffourboyswholivedinMelrose.Theretoo,accordingtodepositions,thepriestbecamearegular
visitor,aspiritualcounselortoMuellerandahelpmatetoherboys,whowerebetween5and12.

Onenight,shetestified,hersecondyoungestsoncametoher,insistingthatshekeepGeoghanawayfromhim.
Idontwanthimdoingthattomyweewee,touchingmyweewee...Muellerrecalledtheboysaying.
Mueller,accordingtoherdeposition,summonedherthreeothersonsandlearnedthatGeoghan,while
purportingtobetakingthemoutforicecream,helpingthemwiththeirbaths,andreadingthembedtimestories,
hadbeenrapingthemorallyandanally.Also,Muellersaid,Geoghanwasinsistingtheytellnoone.We
couldnttellyoubecauseFathersaiditwasaconfessional,shesaidoneofhersonstoldher.

MuellertestifiedthatsheimmediatelytooktheboystoseeRev.PaulE.Miceli,aparishpriestatSt.Marysin
MelrosewhoknewbothGeoghanandherfamily.

ShetestifiedthatMiceliassuredherthatGeoghanwouldbehandledbyappropriatechurchauthoritiesand
wouldneverbeapriestagain.MuelleralsosaidthatMiceliaskedhertokeepthemattertoherself:Badasit
was,hesaid,`Justtrydontthinkaboutit.Itwillneverhappenagain.

Miceli,untilrecentlyamemberofLawscabinet,contradictedMuellerinhisowndeposition.Hesaidhedid
notrecallhername,andneverreceivedavisitofthesortshedescribed.ButMiceliacknowledgedreceivinga
callfromawomansayingGeoghanwasspendingtoomuchtimewithherchildren.

Micelitestifiedthatthecallersaidnothingaboutsexualabuse.Nonetheless,MicelisaidhedrovetoGeoghans
newparishinJamaicaPlaintorelaythewomansconcernstoGeoghanfacetoface.

Familyinneedwasvulnerable.
IfMuellerhadunwittinglyfacilitatedGeoghansaccesstothechildreninherhomeinMelrose,thesamerole
wasplayedbyMaryettaDussourdatthepriestsnextstop:St.Andrews,intheForestHillssectionofJamaica
Plain,whereheservedfrom1974to1980.

Dussourdwasrearingherownfourchildrenthreeboysandagirlaswellasherniecesfourboys.Inher
hardscrabbleneighborhood,shesaidinaninterview,shehopedtherewasapriestthechildrencouldlookupto.
ThenshemetGeoghan,whooversawaltarboysandBoyScoutsattheparish.

Geoghan,sherecalledbitterly,waseagertohelp.Beforelong,hewasvisitingherapartmentalmostevery
eveningfornearlytwoyears.Heroutinelytookthesevenboysoutforicecreamandputthemtosleepat
night.

Butallthattime,Geoghanregularlymolestedthesevenboysintheirbedrooms,Dussourdsaid.Insomecases,
heperformedoralsexonthem,accordingtocourtdocuments.Othertimes,hefondledtheirgenitalsorforced
themtofondlehisoccasionallyasheprayed.

A1994Archdiocesanmemorandum,labeledpersonalandconfidential,saidGeoghanwouldstayinthe
Dussourdhomeevenwhenhewasonretreatbecausehemissedthechildrensomuch.He`wouldtouchthem
whiletheyweresleepingandwakenthembyplayingwiththeirpenises.

Dussourddiscoveredwhatwashappeningafterthechildrenfinallytoldhersister,MargaretGallant.Horrified,
DussourdcomplainedtotheRev.JohnE.Thomas,thepastorofSt.ThomasAquinas,anearbyparish,
accordingtocourtdocumentsandaccountsbyDussourdandachurchofficialwhoaskedthathenotbe
identified.

ThomasconfrontedGeoghanwiththeallegations,andwastakenabackwhenGeoghancasuallyadmittedthey
wereaccurate.Hesaid,`Yes,thatsalltrue,theofficialrecalled.ItwasasifGeoghanhadbeenaskedifhe
preferredchocolateorvanillaicecream.

ThomasimmediatelydrovetoarchdiocesanofficesinBrightontonotifyDaily.InThomasspresencethat
Saturdayafternoon,Feb.9,1980,DailytelephonedGeoghanatSt.Andrewsand,inabriefconversation,
deliveredacurtdirective:Gohome,theofficialsaid.

Geoghanprotested,sayingtherewasnooneelsetocelebratethe4p.m.Mass.IllsaytheMassmyself,Daily
insisted.Gohome.TheofficialsaidDailydrovetoJamaicaPlainandsaidMass.

TheRev.FrancisH.Delaney,whowasGeoghanspastoratSt.Andrews,saidinaninterviewthatchurch
officialsnevertoldhimwhyGeoghandisappearedfromtheparish.

Severalweekslater,Dussourdsaid,acontriteThomascametoherapartmentandtoldherthatGeoghanhad
admittedtoabusingtheboys,buthadexcusedhisbehaviorbytellingthepastor,Itwasonlytwofamilies.

Thomas,echoingatackcommonamongclericsatthetime,laterpleadedwithDussourdnottofollowthrough
onherthreattogopublic,shesaid.HecitedtheyearsGeoghanhadspentstudyingforthepriesthood,andthe
consequencesforGeoghaniftheaccusationsagainsthimwerepublicized.Doyourealizewhatyouretaking
fromhim?Thomasasked,accordingtoDussourd.

Thomas,whoisnowretired,declinedtobeinterviewed.

A1994archdiocesandocumentsummarizingGeoghansrecurrentproblemssaysofthesevenchildren:Fr.
Geoghan`admitstheactivitybutdoesnotfeelitseriousorapastoralproblem.

Geoghanspentthefollowingyearonsickleave,undertreatmentforhiscompulsion,butlivingwithfamilyin
WestRoxbury.InFebruary1981,hewassenttohisfifthparish,St.Brendans.

Almostimmediately,GeoghanwasworkingwithFirstCommunicants,befriendingyoungchildrenandtheir
parents,eventakingsomeboystohisfamilyssummerhomeinScituate,whereparentssaytheylater
discoveredhesexuallyabusedtheyouths.

GeoghansfreereinwasmadepossiblebecausethearchdiocesesaidnothingtoLane,St.Brendanspastor,
aboutGeoghanshistory,accordingtoateacherintheparishwhomLanehasconfidedin.

TheSt.Brendansteacher,whodeclinedtobenamed,saidthatatfirst,Geoghanswillingnesstospend
inordinateamountsoftimewithchildrenwasadmired.Butovertime,someparishionersbecamesuspicious.
Weknewsomethingwasntright,theteachersaid.Hejustzeroedinonsomekids.

Aftertwomoreyearsandmoreallegationsofsexualabuse,GeoghanstenureatSt.Brendanscametoan
abruptendin1984,whenLaneheardcomplaintsthatGeoghanhadmolestedchildrenintheparish.

Lane,theteachersaid,wassodevastatedthathebrokedownwhenhetoldherthenews.And,shesaid,hewas
incensedthathehadnotbeenwarned.FatherLanewasalmostdestroyedbythis,theteachersaid.

Laneisnowretired.WhenaGlobereporterwenttoseehimrecently,heslammedthedoorshutassoonas
Geoghansnamewasmentioned.
Lawdenieshetriedtoshiftaproblem.
Inhisowndefenselastsummer,LawwroteinthePilot,thearchdiocesannewspaper,Neverwasthereaneffort
onmyparttoshiftaproblemfromoneplacetothenext.

Thecardinalsassertionfollowedhisdisclosure,incourtdocuments,thathewasinformedinSeptember1984
ofthefouryearoldallegationsthatGeoghanhadmolestedthesevenJamaicaPlainboys.Inthecourtfiling,
LawwentontosayhethennotifiedGeoghanthathewasbeingremovedfromSt.Brendansandwasin
betweenassignments.

Thelegalresponsebythecardinal,narrowlydrawninresponsetothelawsuitagainsthim,omitsanyreference
toGeoghansmolestationofchildrenatSt.BrendansinDorchester.

Despitehisrecord,GeoghanwasassignedtoSt.Julias.Andinhisfirsttwoyears,hewasinchargeofaltar
boys,religiouseducationforpublicschoolyoungstersandayouthgroup,accordingtothechurchsannual
directories.

ThreeweeksafterGeoghanarrivedinWeston,BishopDArcyprotestedtheassignmenttoLaw,citing
Geoghansproblemsandadding:IunderstandhisrecentabruptdeparturefromSt.Brendans,Dorchestermay
berelatedtothisproblem.

Acopyofthelettercontainsaredactedparagraph,anapparentreferencetotheRev.NicholasDriscoll,who
confirmedlastweekthathehadbeenremovedfromSt.JuliasbeforeGeoghansarrivalbutforalcoholand
depressionproblems,notsexualabuse.SoDArcyexpressedconcernaboutfurtherscandalinthisparish.If
somethinghappens,parishionerswillfeelthatthearchdiocesesimplysendsthempriestswithproblems.

DArcyurgedLawtoconsiderrestrictingGeoghantoweekenddutywhilereceivingsomekindoftherapy.
TheGlobecouldfindnoevidencethatLawacceptedthatadvice.RetiredMonsignorFrancisS.Rossiter,
GeoghanspastoratSt.Julias,refusedtobeinterviewedlastweek.ButChurchrecordsnotethatRossiterwas
awareofGeoghanshistory.

ThecivilandcriminalallegationsGeoghanfacesinMiddlesexandSuffolkcountiessuggestthatheallegedly
abusedatleast30moreboysafterLawsenthimtoWestonin1984bothbeforeandafterthehalfyearssick
leavein1989.

AfterGeoghans1989returntoSt.Julias,itwasanother38monthsbeforeLawtookhimoutoftheparish.
Threeyearslater,Geoghanwasstillseekingoutvictims,allegedlyincludinganaltarboydonningvestmentsfor
achristeningceremony,accordingtothecriminalcharges.

TheshuttlingofGeoghanfromoneparishtoanothercreatedadevastatingcoincidenceforonefamily.Oneboy
heallegedlymolestedisthesonofamanwhohadbeenamongthemanysexuallyabusedbyPorterduringthe
1960sintheFallRiverDiocese,accordingtoRoderickMacLeishJr.,theattorneywhorepresentedthemanand
100otherPortervictims.

MacLeishdeclinedtoprovideanyinformationaboutthefamily,andsaidalegalclaimhasyettobefiledover
thesonstreatmentbyGeoghan.

MacLeish,whohashadsubstantialdealingswiththeBostonArchdiocese,saidheremainsastonishedat
RogerssassertionthatGeoghansassignmentsweredeemedsafebydoctors.Noresponsibleclinicianwould
havesaiditwassafetotransferhimtoanotherparishinlightofwhatthechurchknewabouthispatternof
deviantbehavior,MacLeishsaid.