A Catholic priest who had been cleared of earlier allegations of child sexual abuse is facing new ones and has been barred from any ministry, the Archdiocese of Boston announced today.The Rev. Thomas M. Curran, 65, was placed on administrative leave from 2002 to 2007 following the previous allegations. In 2007, he was placed in permanent disability status, only allowed to celebrate the sacraments with his family.
Until the new allegations, which date back to the 1970s and 1980s, are investigated, the archdiocese said in a statement, Curran will be restricted from any ministry, including with his family.
Archdiocesan spokeswoman Kelly Lynch said that church officials had notified the attorney general's office and "any appropriate district attorney's offices" where the alleged crimes had occurred. She said the church would investigate internally, but referred questions about whether there would be criminal investigations to the law enforcement officials.
"It is with great sadness that we announce these additional allegations of sexual abuse," Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley said in a statement.
"As new information and accusations emerge, we again experience the painful reality of this crisis. While this news is difficult and troubling for us all to receive, it underscores the importance of our ongoing efforts to diligently respond to allegations and strengthens our ardent commitment to safeguard children."
O'Malley asked anyone who might need assistance to contact the archdiocese's Office of Pastoral Support and Outreach, which has professional counselors to offer assistance.
Curran was accused of rape in 2002 by a prison inmate. The inmate, who was serving time for raping a young boy, charged that the priest raped him in the 1970s and introduced him to another figure in the clergy abuse scandal, Rev. Paul Shanley, who also allegedly raped him.
Curran strongly and vehemently denied the charges, telling the Globe in 2003 that "none of it is true" and lamenting that "some psychopath from a prison" would get him thrown out of the ministry. He was cleared by the archdiocese in 2007.
"This case shows, yet again, how extraordinarily flawed so-called church 'investigations' into child sex reports are," David Clohessy, executive director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in a statement. "Catholics, citizens and cops should be extremely skeptical when Catholic officials claim they have 'cleared' an accused pedophile priest.
Lynch, the archdiocesan spokeswoman, said Curran had served over the years at St. Mary's in Cambridge, Boston State College, St. Catherine of Genoa in Somerville, Metropolitan State Hospital in Waltham, MCI Concord, St. John's in Cambridge, St. Joseph's in Belmont, Our Lady of Lourdes in Revere, and Christ the King in Hudson. She would not reveal where he currently lives.