Ordination: 1960

Notes: Fr. Paul Shanley had ties to the Archdiocese of Boston, Diocese of San Bernardino, and Diocese of San Diego. Over two dozen survivors have come forward alleging child and adult sexual abuse by Fr. Paul Shanley. The first known complaint of child sexual abuse by Fr. Shanley came in 1961 from the parents of a 12-year-old boy. Fr. Shanley denied the allegation and was permitted to continue in ministry. In 1970, he launched “ministry to alienated youth,” through which he questioned the Catholic Church’s stance on homosexuality and reached out to troubled and vulnerable children, who were often homeless. In 1974, Cardinal Humberto Medeiros of the Archdiocese of Boston was reportedly informed of an allegation of child sexual abuse against Fr. Shanley, but allowed Fr. Shanley to continue in ministry. According to the Diocese of San Bernardino, Fr. Shanley was accused of sexually abusing a child in 1990. In 1993, Fr. Shanley was sent to the Institute of Living in Hartford, where he admitted to molesting boys and having sexual relationships with women and men. In 2002, Fr. Shanley was arrested in California in connection with alleged child sexual abuse perpetrated at Newton Parish from 1983 to 1989. Fr. Shanley was purportedly laicized in 2004 and in 2005, he was sentenced to 12 years for the rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child. In 2017, Fr. Shanley was released in on probation. He was required to register as a level 3 sex offender and prohibited from having contact with minors under the age of 16. In 2010, as part of a settlement with survivors of clergy sexual abuse, the Diocese of San Diego released Fr. Shanley’s personnel file. Fr. Shanley was included in the Diocese of San Bernardino’s list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. As of 2018, Fr. Shanley was believed to be residing in Ware, Massachusetts.

Assignments:

1960-1967 St. Patrick’s, Stoneham, MA

1968-1969 St. Francis of Assisi, South Braintree, MA

1970-1972 1 Warwick St, Roxbury, MA

1973-1976 St. Philip’s, Boston, MA

1977-1978 Columban Seminary, Milton, MA

1979 Unknown

1980-1989 St. John the Evangelist, Newton, MA

1990-1996 Absent on Sick Leave

1997-1999 Retired

2000-2003 Senior Priests

2004 Unknown

2005-2017 Prison (Inmate)

2017-2018 Unknown