April 30, 2002

By Kathleen A. Shaw,Telegram & Gazette Staff

The Rev. Chester J. Devlin, who headed the Respect Life office for the Catholic Diocese of Worcester, has been removed by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly from his assignment at St. Bernadette parish in Northboro because of an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor in the 1980s.

He was also removed from his position as director of anti-abortion activities in the diocese and has been placed on administrative leave. Maria Flores, the associate director, will take over as acting director of those activities. During the 1980s, Rev. Devlin was a headmaster at Notre Dame Academy of Fitchburg, a privately owned Catholic school, and at Marianhill in Southbridge.

Monsignor Thomas J. Sullivan, diocesan chancellor and vocations director, officiated at weekend Masses at St. Bernadette and explained the situation to parishioners. Rev. Devlin was removed from the parish assignment on Friday.

Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte said yesterday that information on Rev. Devlin was turned over to him by the diocese and that his staff is investigating. The incidents are alleged to have happened in the early 1980s, Mr. Conte said.

Bishop Reilly said yesterday he will ``cooperate fully'' with the district attorney's office in the investigation.

``My prayers and encouragement are with all members of our diocesan family during these difficult times. We pledge, once again, our continued commitment to work toward the protection and well-being of children in our care,'' the bishop said.

Rev. Devlin is the fifth active priest to be placed on administrative leave this year by Bishop Reilly after allegations of sexual misconduct with minors were made against them.

The Rev. John J. Bagley, a former Vatican official, was removed as pastor of St. Mary's parish, North Grafton, on Feb. 20; the Rev. Lee F. Bartlett was removed March 15 from Sacred Heart parish, Worcester; the Rev. Gerard P. Walsh, a chaplain for the Massachusetts State Police, was removed from St. Roch parish, Oxford, on March 19; and the Rev. Peter J. Inzerillo of St. Leo's parish, Leominster, took a leave on March 25.

Bishop Reilly said yesterday that Rev. Devlin will not be ``engaging in any public ministry in this diocese or elsewhere.''

Monsignor Sullivan will oversee the St. Bernadette parish and has taken up residence in the Northboro rectory. He is making himself available to parishioners for pastoral support and to express the bishop's concern and support of the diocese.

Monsignor Sullivan also will assume pastoral duties at St. Bernadette Catholic School, the parish elementary school. He will be able to draw on his experience as former headmaster of St. Bernard High School, Fitchburg, the bishop said. ``I will also be conferring with parish leaders to determine what additional assistance is needed by the parish,'' Bishop Reilly said.

``I ask for your prayers and support for the person making the allegation and the person's family. Please also pray for the entire St. Bernadette parish family, which Father Devlin has served, first as administrator in 1991 and then as pastor since 1992, the families and staff of the St. Bernadette school and the pro-life community who have worked with him over the years. In charity, I also ask for your prayer for Father Devlin and his family during this investigation,'' Bishop Reilly said.

Laurie Letourneau, of Shrewsbury, a Catholic who heads the Life Action League of Massachusetts, said many people in the ``pro-life'' movement have been unhappy with the way Rev. Devlin directed the diocese's anti-abortion efforts.

She said more than 400 anti-abortion activists in the area signed a petition nearly a year ago asking Bishop Reilly to make changes in the Respect Life office and change the focus of its activities. They did not get an answer from the bishop, she said.

Ms. Letourneau said the activists believe the Respect Life office was not doing enough to oppose abortion and that Rev. Devlin was difficult to get along with.

Rev. Devlin is the second Northboro priest accused of sexual abuse. Two men filed suit in the early 1990s maintaining that as teen-agers they were abused by the late Rev. Victor Frobas, who served at St. Rose of Lima in Northboro.

Rev. Frobas had come to this area for treatment at the now closed House of Affirmation in Whitinsville, which was run by the Rev. Thomas A. Kane, who has since been accused of sexually molesting minors. Rev. Kane was last known to be in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Rev. Devlin, a native of Dudley, was ordained in 1971 by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan at Notre Dame Church in Southbridge. He studied for the priesthood at Glastonbury Monastery, Hingham; Christ the King Seminary of Olean, N.Y.; and St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, Conn.

After ordination, he was assigned as temporary associate pastor of St. Camillus parish in Fitchburg, and later was assigned to St. Peter's in Northbridge. He was named to the faculty of Holy Name High School of Worcester in 1972.

In 1979, he became headmaster of Notre Dame Academy of Fitchburg, and in 1987 was named headmaster of Marianhill in Southbridge.

Mr. Conte said that contrary to what some may believe, there is no agreement between his office and the diocese on turning over information regarding sexual misconduct by priests. He said the diocese has ``been very cooperative.'' In cases where his investigators needed more information, the diocese has provided it, he said.

Mr. Conte said once his investigation is through, he may decide to disclose the number of priests whose names were forwarded to him for investigation by the diocese. He has thus far declined to do that. ``I'm still investigating,'' he said.

Kathleen A. Shaw can be reached via e-mail at kshaw@telegram.com.

Rev. Devlin named in suit alleging abuse

Kathleen A. Shaw, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER- A civil suit was filed this week in Worcester Superior Court against the Worcester Catholic Diocese and the Rev. Chester J. Devlin alleging that the priest sexually abused a boy in the late 1970s at Holy Name High School.

Joseph M. Laconte of Worcester said in his suit that he first met Rev. Devlin in the 1978-1979 academic year at Holy Name because the priest taught one of his classes. The abuse, which allegedly included touching and fondling, started late in the academic year and continued throughout Mr. Laconte's time at Holy Name "and for a short time thereafter," according to the suit.

Parishioners of St. Bernadette parish, Northboro, were informed this weekend that Rev. Devlin has resigned as pastor and Bishop Daniel P. Reilly intends to appoint a new permanent pastor.

Rev. Devlin, who was also diocesan pro-life activities director, was pastor of St. Bernadette, which also has an elementary school, until he was removed last year by Bishop Reilly after an allegation of sexual abuse was made to the diocese and later turned over to Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte.

Rev. Devlin is the third priest to be named by former male students of Holy Name as an alleged sexual abuser. Allegations have also been made by area men against the Rev. Norman Jalbert and the Rev. Donald C. Rebokus, who have since died. Rev. Jalbert and Rev. Rebokus were also at Holy Name in the late 1970s. Rev. Rebokus, a former state police chaplain, was headmaster there.

Mr. Laconte, who is represented by Michael C. Wilcox of Aloise & Wilcox P.C. of Worcester, said he did not understand the harm that was done to him until about June 8, 2000.

According to the suit, Rev. Devlin gave Mr. Laconte alcoholic beverages and "used his position as a priest and a teacher" to gain Mr. Laconte's confidence.

Mr. Laconte alleges that the diocese "knew or should have known that Devlin was a pedophile" and he should have been removed as priest and teacher of minor children.

The high school also "knew or should have known" that Rev. Devlin was taking Mr. Laconte and other students to a camp and was regularly providing alcoholic beverages to Mr. Laconte. Holy Name, located on Granite Street, is a co-educational high school under the jurisdiction of the Worcester diocese.

Rev. Devlin was ordained in 1971 and was named to the Holy Name faculty in 1972 and left in 1979 to become headmaster of Notre Dame Academy in Fitchburg. He was named headmaster of Marianhill High School in Southbridge in 1987.

Monsignor Thomas J. Sullivan, temporary administrator of St. Bernadette, told parishioners in a letter he was "confident that an excellent pastor will be appointed, one who can readily deal with the complexities of shepherding a growing parish as well as the diocese's largest Catholic elementary school."