Raymond P. Messier

June 21, 2004

Father Raymond Messier financially doing fine now.

Father Raymond Messier, removed from his parish assignments by the Diocese of Worcester and subject to civil suits alleging sexual abuse of minors, filed for bankruptcy on November 15, 2002 with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Worcester.

In the bankruptcy proceedings, Father Messier stated he owns $700 in firearms, a 1997 Chevrolet Astro Van worth $5,500, a boat and motor, clothing, household items and a chalice worth about $100. Father Messier also listed a mortgage on his waterfront Charlton home at more than $57,000.

Within two years of bankruptcy on January 15, 2004, Father Messier was able to obtain a $86,000 mortgage from Athol Credit Union. Father Messier's outstanding $57,700 mortgage of May 17, 2001 was satisfied and discharged on January 26, 2002.

The plaintiffs in the suit, using the names Doe, Coe and Roe, allege the incidents occurred during the 1970s and early 1980s when Father Messier was assigned to St. Joan of Arc Church and Sacred Heart Church in Worcester. Father Messier was pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Athol, and St. Peter Church, Petersham from about 1990.

No one was more surprised to hear that Father Messier had been serving in Athol than the mother of one of the victims participating in the civil suit. She has said that she met with then Bishop Timothy Harrington after she fund out that Father Messier allegedly sexual abused her son at his Charlton home. The bishop promised her in presence of the boy’s counselor that Father Messier would never be near children again.

The bishop then moved Father Messier to the far reach of the diocese. Father Messier maintained a relatively high profile in his new community and was chaplain on the Athol fire department. Since the regional newspaper is zoned and the mother did not see the local newspapers, she had no way of knowing where Father Messier was and would not have read news accounts of his activities in Athol and Petersham.

We know that Father Messier receives $17,018 tax free payment annual from the Worcester Diocese, based on his bankruptcy filing. He reported to the court that he expected the payments to continue indefinitely.

Father Messier’s attorney, Robert Casey, on December 3, 2003, while in a court hearing before Worcester Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Locked, said he believed it may be possible that his client may soon be subject to prosecution related to an additional incident not included in the civil suit.

As of this day, no criminal prosecution has been initiated by Worcester District Attorney John Conte.

December 5, 2002

Messier finances revealed

By Kathleen A. Shaw,Telegram & Gazette Staff

WORCESTER-- The Rev. Raymond P. Messier, a priest who was removed from his parish assignments in Athol and Petersham amid allegations of sexual abuse, is paid $1,418 a month in non-taxed wages by the Worcester Diocese and said he owns a Charlton home worth nearly $170,000.

The information is in his Nov. 15 filing for bankruptcy with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Worcester. The filing said he also owns $700 in firearms, a 1997 Chevrolet Astro Van worth $5,500, a boat and motor, clothing, household items and a chalice worth about $100.

The priest, in his filing, is seeking to protect himself from a $1 million claim in two civil suits filed in Worcester Superior Court by three men who allege they were sexually abused by him. He also seeks protection from credit card debt. Court records indicate he owes Discover about $6,106, MBNA America about $8,800 and Sears about $4,000.

“I think what he is trying to do is protect himself from the civil suits but to also keep new claimants from coming forward,” said Boston lawyer Carmen L. Durso, who represents the three men who filed the civil suits.

David Nickless of Fitchburg, a lawyer who specializes in bankruptcy, has been retained by Mr. Durso to represent the interests of the alleged sexual abuse victims at a Dec. 23 hearing in Worcester.

Mr. Nickless said yesterday that an abuse victim who has been given notice or otherwise knows about the bankruptcy proceedings and fails to come forward to report the abuse before the bankruptcy is discharged will be prohibited from bringing claims.

He said he intends to go to the hearing, at 11 a.m. Dec. 23 at 600 Main St., and object to discharge of the bankruptcy because the alleged sexual abuse acts were “willful and malicious actions” and are thus exempt from bankruptcy protection.

He also intends to ask the court to allow Mr. Durso to go forward with the two civil suits in Worcester Superior Court in order to “establish the liability.”

The plaintiffs in the suit, using the names Doe, Coe and Roe, allege the incidents occurred during the 1970s and early 1980s, when Rev. Messier was assigned to St. Joan of Arc Church and Sacred Heart Church in Worcester. Rev. Messier had been pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Athol, and St. Peter Church, Petersham, since about 1990.

The petition also shows Rev. Messier has a secured mortgage on the house at 35 Glen Echo Shore Road, Charlton, of $57,481 with the Athol Credit Union and a monthly mortgage payment of $522, which includes taxes. The petition also states that the bulk of the house's worth is exempt from the bankruptcy proceedings. Mr. Nickless said he believes there is a homestead declaration on the house.

Records indicate that Rev. Messier, who was living at the St. Francis of Assisi rectory in Athol until August, had been renting out the Charlton house. He received $6,300 rental income in 2001 and $4,900 rental income in 2002. Records indicate he is owed about $2,100 in back rent. Rev. Messier said that although his monthly income is $1,418, his living expenses total $1,575 a month. The bankruptcy filing indicates that he is still receiving his monthly income.

Assets Rev. Messier lists as protected from bankruptcy include $41 cash in his pocket; $267 in a checking account with a savings bank; $100 in a checking account with the Athol Credit Union. He also listed $202 in the Father Raymond Messier Fund, a fund set up by “concerned parishioners and administered by parishioners to help defray legal and personal expenses,” according to court documents.

November 29, 2002

Priest removed by bishop files a bankruptcy petition
 
By Kathleen A. Shaw, Telegram & Gazette Staff

WORCESTER-- The Rev. Raymond P. Messier, who in June was removed from his pastorships in Athol and Petersham by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly because of sexual abuse allegations, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

A hearing on the petition has been set for 11 a.m. Dec. 23 in the court trustee's office at 600 Main St., Suite 202. The bankruptcy petition was filed by Rev. Messier Nov. 15.

Boston lawyer Carmen L. Durso said the bankruptcy has frozen his lawsuits against Rev. Messier, and the court actions in Worcester Superior Court cannot continue until the bankruptcy issues are resolved. “This in no way affects our claims against the Worcester diocese,” he said.

Rev. Messier and the diocese have been named in two civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of three area men by Rev. Messier. The men are not named in the complaints but are listed only as Doe, Roe and Coe.
     Two of the incidents are alleged to have occurred in 1976 and 1977, involving two 12-year-old boys at Joan of Arc parish and at a camp Rev. Messier owned in Charlton.

The other complaint alleges he molested a 9-year-old boy at the Charlton camp around 1981 when he was at Sacred Heart parish in Worcester.

Mr. Durso, who is representing the alleged victims, said he will contest the bankruptcy. He has retained lawyer David M. Nickless of Fitchburg, who has experience with bankruptcy law, to handle the issues regarding this bankruptcy.

“The abuse of my clients by Father Messier involved intentional acts and these are not subject to the bankruptcy laws,” he said.

He said he believes Rev. Messier is attempting to evade responsibility for his actions in case a judgment is entered against him in the suits.

 “I am contesting this bankruptcy for two reasons. One is to protect my clients. The other is to send a message that accused priests cannot evade responsibility merely by declaring bankruptcy,” he said.

Rev. Messier is listed in the bankruptcy court documents as living in Charlton. Mr. Durso said Rev. Messier owns property in Charlton.

The priest has a corps of supporters at St. Francis parish in Athol and St. Peter's parish in Petersham, where he last served, and fund-raising events have been held on his behalf.

Mr. Durso said all money raised for Rev. Messier by his supporters is now subject to jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court. The court could order the money be used to satisfy creditors, he said. Once the bankruptcy proceedings are resolved, he could move to attach the money if there is anything left, he added.

Other priests have declared bankruptcy amid allegations and lawsuits involving sexual abuse.

September 4, 2002

2 more say Messier assaulted them

By Kathleen A. Shaw, Telegram & Gazette Staff

WORCESTER-- Two additional men say they were sexually assaulted by the Rev. Raymond P. Messier at his camp in Charlton and at St. Joan of Arc Parish.

The incidents allegedly happened in the late1970s, when Rev. Messier was assigned to St. Joan ofArc Parish and they were boys involved with the parish-based Boy Scout troop, according to Boston lawyer Carmen Durso. Rev. Messier was diocesan scouting
director from 1973 to 1977, when he was replaced by another priest.

The two latest accusers joined another man in filing a civil suit yesterday in Worcester Superior Court against Rev. Messier and the Worcester Diocese.

The first accuser said he was sexually assaulted by Rev. Messier when he was assigned to Sacred Heart Parish in Worcester.

The men are identified in court documents only as John Doe, James Coe and Robert Roe. Mr. Durso said he often recommends that his clients use pseudonyms to protect their families from being stigmatized. The names are made known to parties to the suit, however. Rev. Messier was removed by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly from his pastorships of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Athol and St. Peter Parish in Petersham in June after the first allegation.

Rev. Messier denied the first allegation and has retained Harvard lawyer Robert Casey to represent him. Many of his parishioners in Athol want him returned to the parish and have displayed a banner of support in front of the Main Street church. Mr. Casey did not
return a telephone call yesterday seeking a comment about the new allegations. The diocese does not comment
on civil suits.

The mother of the first victim said that when she found out about the sexual attack on her son, she went to the late Bishop Timothy J. Harrington. A meeting was held with the boy's therapist at Worcester Youth Guidance Center.

The woman said Bishop Harrington told her in the presence of Rev. Messier and the therapist that the priest would never again be in a position where he had access to young people. The bishop also told her that Rev. Messier would be sent to the House of Affirmation, which at the time was a treatment clinic for clergy and religious, many of whom had sexual problems.

She recently discovered on a visit to Sacred Heart Parish that Rev. Messier had been moved to Athol and Petersham and was pastoring two parishes with young parishioners.

John Doe said in the suit that he was 12 and a member of St. Joan of Arc when Rev. Messier assaulted him numerous times in 1976 and 1977. These acts included alleged genital fondling and other attempted and threatened acts of assault.

James Coe was the same age and a member of that parish when assaulted by Rev. Messier, according to the suit. The acts occurred in the church basement and included anal and oral penetration and numerous acts of genital fondling, according to the suit.
Robert Roe said he was about age 9 in 1981 and a member of Sacred Heart Parish when he was sexually assaulted by Rev. Messier in Charlton.

The assault included attempted anal penetration, he said.  According to the suit, these men have been told “and believe that defendant Messier committed sexual assault on other young male members of the diocese under his care and supervision.” They alleged that the bishop knew of Rev. Messier's “prior and ongoing sexual assaults” and should have stopped him. Rev. Messier, 60, served at St. Joan of Arc from 1976 to 1978 and was transferred to Sacred Heart in 1978. He was then transferred to St. Roch Parish in Oxford where he served until going to Petersham in 1984. In Petersham, he replaced the Rev. Brendan O'Donoghue who has been charged in two civil suits with molesting boys. He was assigned to St. Francis in 1990 where until recently he was chaplain of the Athol Fire Department.

June 12, 2002

Athol priest to battle allegations

By Kathleen A. Shaw,Telegram & Gazette Staff

The Rev. Raymond P. Messier, who was removed from his parishes in Athol and Petersham last week after an allegation of sexual misconduct was made to the Catholic Diocese of Worcester, plans to fight to clear his name.

The priest has retained lawyer Robert Casey of Harvard. Family members said at least three petitions are circulating in the Athol and Petersham area that will go to Bishop Daniel P. Reilly. The signers are attesting to Rev. Messier's good character and opposing his removal from the parishes.

Rev. Messier, in a telephone interview last night, said he has been told not to speak publicly on his situation and to refer calls to his lawyer. His lawyer was not available last night. Rev. Messier has left the rectory in Athol and is staying elsewhere.

He is the first of six priests removed from active priesthood this year to assert his innocence and try to clear his name.

Michelle Marcustry of Douglas, a niece, said she was appalled by the allegation made against her uncle. She questioned why the woman who made the allegation and the woman's son do not reveal their names.

“If this was true, why is it the mother and not the son coming forward?” she said.

One of Rev. Messier's big worries when the allegation surfaced was that he would not be able to take his dog with him if he was forced to leave the rectory, Ms. Marcustry said. The dog was allowed to go with her uncle, who is staying with a friend, she said.

“He has an impeccable record of nearly 33 years with the chancery and priesthood,” she said.

“I remember as a kid he took some underprivileged kids out to buy Christmas presents for them and one child wanted to forfeit his gift so he could get his mom a watch. He bought the watch and the child a gift,” she said. “Does this sound like a priest who would do something bad to a child?”

Rev. Messier, who was ordained in Worcester in 1968, was removed by Bishop Reilly on Friday, after an investigation by the diocese into an allegation that the priest molested a 9-year-old boy around 1980 at a camp in Charlton.

Carmen Durso, a Boston lawyer representing the mother of the boy, said the story from the mother was backed up by the boy's therapist. The mother has not wanted her name made public.

She told Mr. Durso a meeting was held after the alleged incident at Worcester Youth Guidance that was attended by her, the therapist, Rev. Messier and then-Bishop Timothy J. Harrington. She said the bishop said Rev. Messier would not be put in a position to be near children again.

Rev. Messier has been serving as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi parish, Athol, and St. Peter's parish, Petersham. He was the Athol Fire Department chaplain.

June 8, 2002

Rev. Messier removed from pastor assignments

By Kathleen A. Shaw, Telegram & Gazette Staff

The Rev. Raymond P. Messier, who has been the subject of investigation by the Catholic Diocese of Worcester, was removed yesterday from his assignments as pastor in Athol and Petersham.

“They did the right thing,” said Carmen Durso, a Boston lawyer who brought the allegation of sexual abuse by the priest to the attention of the diocese.

Rev. Messier is the sixth priest that Bishop Daniel P. Reilly has removed from an active parish assignment since February in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct. Others were the Rev. John J. Bagley of North Grafton; the Rev. Lee F. Bartlett of Worcester; the Rev. Gerard Walsh of Oxford; the Rev. Chester Devlin of Northboro; and the Rev. Peter J. Inzerillo of Leominster.

The mother of the alleged victim said that Rev. Messier was caught sexually abusing her 9-year-old son in 1980 at a camp in Charlton that was owned by the priest's family. The mother, who lived in Worcester at the time, reported the alleged abuse to a Worcester police officer who, she said, declined to act. She then called for a meeting of the boy's therapist at Worcester Youth Guidance Center, Rev. Messier and then-Bishop Timothy J. Harrington.

The woman, who declined to be named publicly, said that Bishop Harrington assured her and the therapist that Rev. Messier would never be in a position to have contact with children again and would receive treatment. The priest was removed from Sacred Heart Parish in Worcester, but later was assigned to three other parishes. He has been serving at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Athol and St. Peter's Parish in Petersham. He also is chaplain of the Athol Fire Department.

The therapist, who also has not been named, agreed with the woman's account, according to Mr. Durso. The therapist said he learned about the abuse when the boy drew for him a picture of a skeleton with skull and crossbones and labeled it “Father Pig.”

Raymond L. Delisle, diocesan spokesman, said Rev. Messier will not be engaged in “any public ministry in the diocese or elsewhere.” He added, “In keeping with our policy, we will cooperate fully with the district attorney's office in their investigation of this allegation.”

Deacon James Couture will oversee the Athol and Petersham parishes. Bishop Daniel P. Reilly said he will confer with parish leaders to “determine what additional assistance is needed by each of the communities.”

“I ask for your prayers and support for the person making the allegation and (for) the person's family. Please pray for the parishioners of St. Francis and St. Peter, whom Father Messier has served since 1984. In charity, I also ask for your prayers for Father Messier and his family during this investigation,” the bishop said.

The mother said yesterday that children are placed on Earth by God with parents “whose role is to protect them and raise them.” She said she remains a devout Catholic.

She noted that she was a single mother when the abuse allegedly occurred and that Rev. Messier offered to help her by taking her son to the camp in Charlton. “They have betrayed that trust that we had in them,” she said of priests who sexually abuse parishioners.

The woman said she will not allow her identity to be made public until she receives permission to do so from her son. She said she would like to help other victims of abuse by priests.

Rev. Messier, 60, a native of Auburn, prepared for priesthood at the Seminary of Philosophy in Montreal and the American College of Louvain, Belgium, and was ordained in 1968 at Holy Name of Jesus Church, Worcester.

He was first assigned to St. Paul's Cathedral and later sent to St. Joseph's Parish in Worcester. In 1970, he was transferred to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Gardner. He moved to St. James of South Grafton in 1971 and was named associate pastor of Our Lady Immaculate Parish in Athol in 1974. He first became fire chaplain for the Athol Fire Department in 1975.

He became associate pastor of Joan of Arc Parish, Worcester, in 1976. He was moved to Sacred Heart of Worcester in 1978.

From there he moved to St. Roch's Parish of Oxford and was transferred from there to St. Peter's of Petersham in 1984. He was named pastor in 1985. He was named pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Athol in 1990.

May 16, 2002

Lawyer says Rev. Messier abused boy

Kathleen A. Shaw,Telegram & Gazette Staff

The Rev. Raymond P. Messier, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Athol and St. Peter's Church in Petersham, had inappropriate sexual contact with a 9-year-old boy when he was serving at Sacred Heart Church in Worcester in the early 1980s, according to Boston lawyer Carmen Durso.

The incident allegedly occurred around 1980 or 1981 at a camp owned by the priest's family in Charlton, Mr. Durso said. Mr. Durso was contacted by the mother of the alleged victim, who told of an agreement from the late Bishop Timothy J. Harrington to make sure that Rev. Messier was never in a position to have contact with children again.

The bishop also said the priest would be sent for treatment, Mr. Durso said he was told.
Rev. Messier served in three parishes after that time and is still in active ministry. He is also chaplain for the Athol Fire Department and held a similar position in South Grafton.

The lawyer said the child's mother first learned of the incident when another boy saw something inappropriate happening between the boy and the priest and reported it to his mother. His mother then told the boy's mother.

The mother went to a police officer she knew and told him about the incident. She said in an interview yesterday that the police officer, who is now deceased, told her that ``the church takes care of its own'' and he could not intervene.

At some later point, the boy's mother met with a therapist in Worcester who said the boy had drawn a picture of a skeleton with skull and crossbones and labeled it ``Father Pig,'' Mr. Durso said. The boy also revealed the abuse to the therapist, he said. Mr. Durso said the therapist confirmed the incident.

The mother had a meeting with Bishop Harrington, at which he said the priest would not be put where he would have access to children, Mr. Durso said.

She was recently shocked to learn that Rev. Messier was a pastor in Athol and Petersham.

``This woman did everything people say parents should do and she still didn't get anywhere,'' Mr. Durso said -- going to police, meeting with the boy's therapist, meeting with the bishop and getting an ``agreement'' that the priest would not have access to children. ``Now she finds out he is still in active ministry,'' he said.

Mr. Durso said he spoke yesterday with Gavin Reardon, lawyer for the Diocese of Worcester. His goal was not to sue the diocese, but to make sure the priest was not in a position to abuse children, he said. ``This isn't about money,'' he said.

Raymond L. Delisle, spokesman for the diocese, said the diocese learned late yesterday of the allegation of sexual misconduct regarding Rev. Messier, and would conduct a review to determine the appropriate actions.
``We will also cooperate fully with the district attorney or other appropriate authorities on any investigation,'' Mr. Delisle said in a statement.

``The Diocese of Worcester has clearly stated in its sexual abuse policy that it will not tolerate sexual misconduct with minors by anyone, including clergy, employees or volunteers serving in its name.''
The family does not wish to be publicly identified and it is a policy of the Telegram & Gazette not to identify abuse victims without their permission.

Rev. Messier, 60, a native of Auburn, prepared for priesthood at the Seminary of Philosophy in Montreal and the American College of Louvain, Belgium, and was ordained in 1968 at Holy Name of Jesus Church, Worcester.

He was first assigned to St. Paul's Cathedral and later moved to St. Joseph's parish, Worcester. In 1970, he was transferred to Our Lady of the Rosary parish, Gardner. He moved to St. James of South Grafton in 1971 and was named associate pastor of Our Lady Immaculate parish, Athol, in 1974. He first became fire chaplain for the Athol Fire Department in 1975.

He became associate pastor of Joan of Arc parish, Worcester, in 1976. While pastor of the Lincoln Street parish in 1977, Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan relieved him of duties as diocesan chaplain for Scouting. He was moved to Sacred Heart of Worcester in 1978.

From there he moved to St. Roch's parish of Oxford and was transferred from there to St. Peter's of Petersham in 1984. He was named pastor in 1985. He was named pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Athol in 1990.