Former altar boy coordinator arraigned on sex abuse charges
A former altar boy coordinator at St. Brendan’s Church in Dorchester was arraigned Wednesday on sex abuse charges from the 1980s and 1990s, the Suffolk District Attorney’s office said in a statement.Michael Walsh, 79, of Pembroke, was charged with two counts of rape of a child and three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child for offenses against a boy who was in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade at the time, according to the DA’s office.Walsh, who also coached the Cedar Grove Baseball League at the time, was ordered to wear a GPS monitor, stay in Massachusetts, and give up his passport while the case is pending.Authorities said the victim, now in his late 30s, came forward earlier this year. Walsh allegedly used his position of authority within the church to “gain access to, groom, and ultimately sexually assault” the victim, the DA’s office said.Walsh allegedly took the victim and other children out to eat and to the movies, and would drive them home. He allegedly abused the victim in his car, his home, and his office, according to the DA’s office.Authorities said Walsh can be prosecuted because the statute of limitations in child sexual abuse cases was eliminated by the Massachusetts legislation in 2006 and replaced with a requirement of “objective, corroborative evidence” of abuse in cases brought more than 27 years after the alleged abuse.“Changes in the statute of limitations law for child sexual abuse cases help us, but it means nothing without the bravery of abuse survivors who overcome their fear and shame to disclose trauma,” Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley said. “Survivors, young or old, should know that they can always count on us to help, support, and speak for them.”The DA’s office said Walsh was ordained as a priest in 2002 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Although he was ordained there, he never served as a priest in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, as he was never assigned to a parish there, according to diocese spokeswoman Annalise Laumeyer.While Walsh was assigned to the St. Francis de Sales Church in Charlestown, his ministry was revoked after allegations of abuse that took place prior to the conduct charged in this case, according to authorities.Walsh is expected back in court on November 14.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com