Church Against The Horizon

Priest Abuse In Maine

Maine’s Diocese of Portland has faced multiple clergy abuse allegations in the past two decades. Nearly 50 diocesan clergy members have faced credible abuse accusations.
Additionally, a well-known private Jesuit school in Maine has faced multiple allegations of abuse by several staff members.
Recognizing the needs of abuse survivors, state lawmakers eliminated Maine’s legal deadlines for cases of child sexual abuse. Survivors are now using their expanded legal rights to seek justice.

Were You Abused by a Clergy Member in Maine?

You May Have Rights to Legal Compensation

Maine’s Diocese of Portland has faced multiple clergy abuse allegations in the past two decades. Nearly 50 diocesan clergy members have faced credible abuse accusations.
Additionally, a well-known private Jesuit school in Maine has faced multiple allegations of abuse by several staff members.
Recognizing the needs of abuse survivors, state lawmakers eliminated Maine’s legal deadlines for cases of child sexual abuse. Survivors are now using their expanded legal rights to seek justice.

Were You Abused by a Clergy Member in Maine?

You May Have Rights to Legal Compensation

Maine Clergy Abuse Lawsuits

The decision to take legal action is a personal one. For many sexual abuse survivors in Maine, filing a lawsuit is a way to take back control. A civil case allows survivors to expose their abuser and any responsible third-party.

Survivors are also filing civil lawsuits against the Diocese of Portland for its negligent role in decades of priest abuse.

Some of these survivors were previously time-barred from filing a civil lawsuit. Thanks to the recently-opened revival period, those with expired claims can now have their day in court.

Clergy Abuse Settlements In Maine

In January 2016, six men filed a lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. According to the lawsuit, the men were all abused as children by Father James Vallely in several different Maine parishes. 

Additionally, the lawsuit claims diocesan leaders knew of the abuse and chose to cover up the priest’s actions. Church leaders failed to report the abuse to law enforcement or remove Vallely from his position in the Catholic Church. 

The Portland Diocese agreed to pay a $1.2 million settlement to the six abuse survivors.

Child Sexual Abuse Statutes Of Limitations In Maine

To seek legal action against an abuser or institution, a survivor must follow the relevant state statute of limitations.

A statute of limitations (SOL) sets a legal deadline. SOLs vary based on the jurisdiction, the type of injury and the intended legal action (i.e., criminal charges versus a civil claim).

Civil Statutes For Child Sex Abuse In Maine

As of the year 2000, there is no civil statute for child sexual abuse claims in the state of Maine.

However, the legislation that eliminated the civil statute was not retroactive. It did not apply to cases that had already expired under the previous statute. In June 2021, Maine lawmakers passed follow-up legislation opening a permanent revival window. This is similar to legislation passed in Vermont

The revival window renews all expired claims of abuse. This means victims can file civil claims regardless of when their abuse took place. Survivors can file claims against individuals, organizations and government entities.

The Maine revival window opened on June 29, 2021 and never closes.

You May Have Legal Rights

Speak With Our Lawyers About Maine’s Statutes Today

Criminal Statutes For Child Sex Abuse In Maine

In Maine, there is no criminal statute for felony or misdemeanor sexual offenses against victims under the age of 16. 

There are separate criminal statutes for sexual offenses against victims 16 years of age or older. These statutes vary based on the crime itself and the severity of the crime.

List Accused Priests In Maine

The list below contains the names of Catholic clergy members and priests accused of abuse in the Diocese of Portland. This list does not contain the names of diocesan staff facing abuse claims. However, you may be able to file a case against such individuals or the diocese they served.

If you were abused by a priest or clergy member in Maine, we are here to help you. You deserve justice.

Survivors May Be Eligible For Compensation

Learn About Filing a Lawsuit in Maine

If you are unable to find the name of a priest on this list, we recommend searching our national database of accused priests. The accused priest or clergy member you are looking for may be listed under another state in our database.

Additionally, finding your abuser in our database is not a necessary precursor to filing a lawsuit. Our database is updated as new information comes to light. You may still be able to sue your abuser, even if they are not listed in our database.

Speak with our attorneys today to learn more about your legal options.

History Of Clergy Abuse In Maine

The Catholic Church priest abuse scandal continues to unfold across America. In 2002, Maine was at the heart of The Boston Globe report that brought America’s attention to the situation. Since then, more allegations of child sexual abuse within the Diocese of Portland have come to light.

2004 | Maine Clergy Abuse Investigation

In 2004, Maine’s attorney general’s office released the results of a two-year clergy abuse investigation. The investigation was launched in 2002 following The Boston Globe’s reporting of clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston.

The investigation reviewed child sex abuse allegations against more than 60 clergy members and Maine priests accused of abuse. The allegations spanned 75 years.

One of the biggest takeaways investigators found is that Maine Church officials endangered children by concealing abuse allegations and moving abusive Catholic priests to new assignments. Many Catholic dioceses across the country have been sued for similar cover-ups.

Following the investigation, no criminal charges were pressed against identified abusers. At the time the investigation ended, the cases were too old to prosecute given the state’s former statute of limitations.

2019 | Clergy Abuse At Cheverus High School

Cheverus High School, a Jesuit private school in Maine, has faced abuse allegations concerning several former employees.

In 2019, the USA Northeast Jesuit Province released a list of 50 Jesuit priests credibly accused of child sex abuse. Seven of the priests were former teachers at Cheverus.

One of the priests listed on the Jesuit’s list is James F. Talbot. Talbot was accused of abusing children while teaching at Cheverus High School and Boston College High School. In 2003, 14 survivors of Talbot’s abuse received a $5.2 million settlement. Two of the 14 plaintiffs were former Cheverus High School students.

Cheverus High School also faced accusations against the school’s former track coach, Charles Malia. Multiple students have accused Malia of abuse. The Portland Press Herald reported Malia admitted abusing students to a reporter in 2000.

Cheverus High School is one of many private schools facing accusations of school abuse in the United States. According to the survivors who have come forward, Cheverus High School has offered little assistance to victims of former abusive employees.

“They seem to always want to split hairs and assume the least amount of responsibility that they can get away with legally. Morally, they are bankrupt. Absolutely bankrupt.”

Michael Sweatt, SurvivorPortland Press Herald

Portland Diocese Substantiates Allegations

In January 2022, the Diocese of Portland substantiated allegations against Eugene Descombes and Renald Hallee. The late Descombes abused a minor during a trip to Canada in 1950. From 1970 to 1973, Renald Hallee sexually abused a student at St. John’s Catholic Church. These were not the first allegations made against Hallee.

Maine Priest Abuse Victim Resources

Survivors of sexual violence in the state of Maine can receive help by calling the statewide sexual assault hotline at 1-800-871-7741.

There are also many sexual violence victim resources available to Maine residents. Below is a list of Maine resources organized by county.

Maine Sexual Violence Resources By County

CountyFacility Name
AndroscogginSexual Assault Prevention & Response Services (SAPARS)
AroostookAMHC Sexual Assault Services (AMHC)
CumberlandSexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine (SARSSM)
CumberlandSexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSMM)
*serves Eastern Cumberland County
FranklinSexual Assault Prevention & Response Services (SAPARS)
HancockAMHC Sexual Assault Services (AMHC)
Kennebec​Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center
KnoxSexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSMM)
LincolnSexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSMM)
OxfordSexual Assault Prevention & Response Services (SAPARS)
PenobscotRape Response Services (RRS)
PiscataquisRape Response Services (RRS)
SagadahocSexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSMM)
Somerset​Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center
WaldoSexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSMM)
WashingtonAMHC Sexual Assault Services (AMHC)
YorkSexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine (SARSSM)
Source: The Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA)

Maine Priest Abuse FAQs

What Is The Statute Of Limitations On Priest Sexual Abuse In Maine?

Maine currently has no civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. A revival window opened in June 2019 renewed all expired civil cases. The revival window never closes.

Learn more about child sexual abuse statutes in Maine here >

How Do I Report Sexual Abuse By A Priest In Maine?

Emergency Call Icon

If you or a suspected victim is in danger, call 911 immediately.

To report incidents of child abuse, including sexual abuse of a minor, call the Maine Child Protective Intake line at 1-800-452-1999.

After you have reported the abuse to the local authorities, you can also file a report with the Diocese of Portland.

Report Abuse To The Portland Diocese

Michael Magalski | Director of the Office of Professional Responsibility
Phone: 207-321-7836
Email: [email protected]

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Ron Meneo, Managing Partner at Meneo Law Group.

Meneo Group managing partner: Ron Meneo

Ron Meneo is the managing partner of The Meneo Law Group. With more than 40 years of experience, he represents clients across the country on a variety of complex legal matters, including personal injury due to institutional sexual abuse, unsafe pharmaceutical drugs and other practice areas. He is a recipient of Martindale-Hubbell’s prestigious AV® Preeminent Rating. He has also served as an editor and contributor for several legal journals.

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