The Massachusetts Supreme Court will let a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Springfield Roman Catholic Diocese continue.
A former altar boy brought the suit, alleging that while a child in the 1960’s - two priests in the Diocese, abused him.
The so-called John Doe suit alleges the abuse on the part of the then Bishop Christopher Weldon, but also the two priests.
The suit, filed in 2021 alleges that for decades the Diocese covered up what happened.
The Diocese was seeking dismissal under “the charitable immunity” doctrine.
But the high court ruled that no matter how it was considered- the abuse could not be considered part of a charitable mission.
The Diocese has not commented.
But the attorney for the plaintiff says the high court made it clear that the church cannot hide behind a cloak of immunity.