Two Massachusetts Priests Suspended Over Allegations of Sexual Abuse Involving Minors

The Associated Press

Published: Feb 2, 2002

BOSTON (AP) - The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston said Saturday that two pastors were suspended from all assignments following the discovery of past allegations of sexual misconduct involving minors.

The archdiocese, which has been reviewing personnel records under a sexual abuse policy announced last month by Cardinal Bernard Law, said it was giving the names of both priests to prosecutors.

The archdiocese identified the parish priests as the Rev. Paul J. Finegan of St. Bernadette Church in Randolph and the Rev. Daniel Graham of St. Joseph Church in Quincy.

The archdiocese said multiple allegations of sexual misconduct with minors had been made against Finegan and that one such allegation had been made against Graham.

Archdiocese spokeswoman Donna Morrissey said she did not know when the allegations were made.

In a message to parishioners printed in a bulletin for weekend masses, Graham, who has diabetes, said he was taking health leave to care for himself and his 97-year-old father.

"I apologize for the abruptness of this change but sometimes overwhelming needs must be dealt with immediately," Graham said in the statement.

A man who answered the phone at St. Joseph Rectory Saturday said Graham would not comment. The man declined to give his name.

A message left for Finegan at St. Bernadette Rectory was not immediately returned Saturday.

Bishop Walter Edyvean, the vicar general of the archdiocese, was to address parishioners at weekend masses at St. Bernadette. Bishop Richard Malone, bishop of the archdiocese's south region, was to address parishioners at St. Joseph.

Parishioners will be offered counseling, and those with information about the allegations were asked to contact either the archdiocese or prosecutors.

The archdiocese implemented the sexual abuse policy following the release of court records showing it had moved former priest John Geoghan from parish to parish despite allegations against him.

Geoghan was defrocked in 1998 and convicted of indecent assault last month in Middlesex Superior Court.

AP-ES-02-02-02 1746EST