Overview
- The 288-page review identifies 75 clergy credibly accused of abusing more than 300 children since 1950 and describes a culture of secrecy that enabled transfers and minimization of complaints.
- Investigators accessed more than 250,000 diocesan records but found euphemistic or missing documentation, evidence of file destruction and privilege claims, and say cooperation was delayed or limited.
- The report says the Diocese withheld most complaints from law enforcement for decades, citing data showing 1 of 28 referrals before 1990, 5 of 65 in the 1990s, 23 of 46 in the 2000s, and full referral of 18 complaints from 2020–2025; no recent abuse was uncovered.
- Criminal accountability stemming from the probe includes charges against former clergy John Petrocelli, James M. Silva and Kevin Fisette, who await trial, while Edward Kelley was deemed incompetent and later died; overall 20 accused faced charges and 14 were convicted.
- Neronha recommends monitoring of credibly accused priests, a survivor compensation fund, stronger investigative policies, authority for public grand-jury reports, and extended civil and criminal statutes, as the Diocese issues a public apology and emphasizes existing safeguards and no active ministry by the credibly accused.