Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
1962-2003 · 41 years · show in timeline

New Hampshire 1962 to 2003: The Diocese of Manchester acknowledged that the state likely had evidence to convict it of child endangerment

In 2002 the New Hampshire Attorney General investigated the Diocese of Manchester as an organisation. The diocese at first produced only redacted records until a court compelled full production. According to the report, in multiple cases the diocese knew that a priest was sexually assaulting minors, took inadequate or no action, and the priest abused further children. The prosecutors were prepared to prove that the diocese chose to protect itself and its priests from scandal, lawsuits and criminal charges instead of the children. In one case a confidentiality agreement was meant to prevent the victim from speaking with the police. In December 2002 the diocese acknowledged that the state likely had evidence to convict it and submitted to annual state audits; in return no indictment was brought.

Period
1962-2003 (41 years)
Country
United States
Institutions
Diocese of Manchester (New Hampshire)
Category
Sexual abuse, Cover-up
Level of evidence
A Primary source · what does this mean?

What happened to the people

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. The investigation began in February 2002 after the reports about the Archdiocese of Boston and concerned the diocese's handling of allegations over forty years. The diocese at first produced only redacted records, citing various grounds; only in June 2002, after a court order, did it provide the complete records. For some cases the statute of limitations expired around 1 February 2003. The task force investigated eight priests in depth; resources were lacking for nearly 40 others.
    Evidence: Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire, und Roman Catholic Bishop of Manchester, S. 1
    „the manner in which the Diocese responded to allegations that some of its priests had engaged in sexual misconduct with minors over a period of forty years“
    Agreement, In re Grand Jury Proceedings No. 02-S-1154, Hillsborough County Superior Court, S. 1. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire (Peter W. Heed), S. 1
    „The Diocese initially provided redacted records to the AGO, asserting various grounds for withholding or redacting information.“
    Report on the Investigation of the Diocese of Manchester, S. 1. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire (Peter W. Heed), S. 1
    „The AGO received the unredacted records on June 20, 2002.“
    Report on the Investigation of the Diocese of Manchester, S. 1. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire (Peter W. Heed), S. 2
    „for some of the cases the statute of limitations expired on or about February 1, 2003“
    Report on the Investigation of the Diocese of Manchester, S. 2. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire (Peter W. Heed), S. 20
    „nearly 40 other priests affiliated with the Diocese“
    Report on the Investigation of the Diocese of Manchester, S. 20. Original · Archive copy

What happened to those affected?

  1. The prosecutors intended to present child endangerment indictments against the diocese on 13 December 2002. On 10 December 2002 the diocese acknowledged in an agreement that the state had evidence likely to sustain a conviction, and that assignments of priests who had abused minors before had resulted in further victims. It committed to reporting duties and annual audits by the Attorney General; in return no indictment was brought.
    Evidence: Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire (Peter W. Heed), S. 1
    „the Diocese acknowledged that the State had evidence likely to sustain a conviction against the Diocese for child endangerment“
    Report on the Investigation of the Diocese of Manchester, S. 1. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire (Peter W. Heed), S. 2
    „the Diocese acknowledged that certain of its decisions concerning the assignment to ministry of priests who had abused minors in the past resulted in other minors being victimized“
    Report on the Investigation of the Diocese of Manchester, S. 2. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire (Peter W. Heed), S. 2
    „The Diocese is obligated to submit to an annual audit by the AGO“
    Report on the Investigation of the Diocese of Manchester, S. 2. Original · Archive copy

Background

Response of the Church

  1. According to the report, the investigation confirmed that in multiple cases the diocese knew that a priest was sexually assaulting minors, took inadequate or no action to protect the children, and the priest subsequently abused further children. The prosecutors were prepared to prove that the diocese consciously chose to protect itself and its priests from scandal, lawsuits and criminal charges instead of protecting its minor parishioners. In at least one case the diocese insisted on a confidentiality agreement partly to prevent the victim from speaking with law enforcement about the priest's offences.
    Evidence: Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire (Peter W. Heed), S. 1
    „the Diocese knew that a particular priest was sexually assaulting minors, the Diocese took inadequate or no action to protect these children within the parish, and that the priest subsequently committed additional acts of sexual abuse against children“
    Report on the Investigation of the Diocese of Manchester, S. 1. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire (Peter W. Heed), S. 8
    „The State was prepared to prove that the Diocese consciously choose to protect itself and its priests from scandal, lawsuits, and criminal charges instead of protecting the minor parishioners under its care from continued sexual abuse by priests.“
    Report on the Investigation of the Diocese of Manchester, S. 8. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire (Peter W. Heed), S. 13
    „In at least one instance, the investigation revealed that one of the reasons for the Diocese’s insistence on a confidentiality agreement was to prevent the victim from speaking with law enforcement about the sexual offenses of the priest.“
    Report on the Investigation of the Diocese of Manchester, S. 13. Original · Archive copy

See also

Original documents to read

  1. Government report
    Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire (Peter W. Heed): Report on the Investigation of the Diocese of Manchester, 3 March 2003. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
  2. Government report
    Office of the Attorney General, New Hampshire, und Roman Catholic Bishop of Manchester: Agreement, In re Grand Jury Proceedings No. 02-S-1154, Hillsborough County Superior Court, 10 December 2002. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
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