The Roman Catholic Diocese in Springfield, Massachusetts, recently said it will expand its public list of priests accused of abuse to include those implicated after their death. But some other dioceses in Massachusetts don't have lists posted on their websites at all.
A spokesman for the Worcester Diocese said in a statement that it has made an announcement anytime a priest was removed from ministry, even temporarily.
The diocese also said names can be found from independent reports on the internet.
“Our Diocesan Review Committee continues to discuss the issue of posting names of accused clergy on a public list," said Ray Delisle, spokesman for the Worcester Diocese. "Given that we have announced publicly anyone who was removed from ministry, even temporarily, we have made them known. And we are well aware that searching the internet for any names will produce various independent reports as well so victims can certainly find out if a claim was made against someone in the past."
Phil Saviano is a surivor of abuse by a Worcester Diocese priest, and an advocate for victims. He is also the founder of the New England chapter of SNAP — Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
"They care much more about their reputation than they do about abuse victims," Saviano said. "I think that one of the main reasons they refuse to publish those names is that there would be so many names on that list, it would be a shock and an embarrassment to the parishioners."
The Fall River Diocese doesn't have a public list right now, but a spokesperson tells the Standard-Times newspaper that one is being created.
The Springfield Diocese and Boston Archdiocese do have public lists on their respective websites.
