11 Salem Priests Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Minors Since 1950

SALEM, NH — The Diocese of Manchester has released a comprehensive list of priests who have been accused of sexually assaulting minors since 1950. The list, which aims to improve the accountability of the Roman Catholic Church, includes 11 priests who have served in Salem over the past several decades, including nine former priests of St. Joseph Parish and two former priests of Mary, Queen of Peace.

The following Salem priests are on the list, released by the Diocese of Manchester Wednesday. The list below names the date that the accused priest was assigned to the particular Salem church, along with his status. A laicized status means the person no longer has any rights of Holy Orders, and the Diocese of Manchester no longer has responsibility of overseeing him. Those who were "sentenced to a life of prayer and penance" are permanently banned from all forms of public ministry and may not wear clerical attire or publicly identify as priests. Others have been accused of sexually assaulting a minor after the priest has already died, in which case their case has not been concluded.

Mary, Queen of Peace

• Francis McMullen, assigned Sept. 6, 1966 — Accused after death, proceedings have not been completed
• Albion Bulger, assigned March 10, 1976 — Assigned to a "life of prayer and penance," now deceased

St. Joseph Parish

• John Boyd, assigned Oct. 26, 1926 — Accused after death, proceedings have not been completed. After Boyd's death in 1968, a victim reported performing a sexual act on him at age 7 in St. Joseph Parish in Laconia in 1957. The incident was reported in 2004.
• Albert Boulanger, assigned May 26, 1962 — Accused after death, proceedings have not been completed
• John Nolin, assigned Sept. 3, 1963 — Laicized
• Robert Densmore, assigned June 15, 1966 — Assigned to a "life of prayer and penance"
• Ronald Corriveau, assigned Feb. 1, 1973 — Laicized
• Karl Dowd, assigned Nov. 5, 1975 — Accused after death, proceedings have not been completed. In 2003, a person reported being assaulted by Dowd in Salem, by Father Edward Lemire in Nashua and by Father Roland Viette in Troy. The assault involving Dowd reportedly occurred while the victim was an adult. All three priests were deceased when the report came. In addition, Dowd was accused of committing sexual assault at Camp Fatima between 1973 and 1974, while a victim was 12 or 13 years old, according to a report made in 2004, also after Dowd's death.
• Alfred Jannetta, assigned July 14, 1978 — Assigned to a "life of prayer and penance"
• Richard Connors, assigned July 9, 1986 — Accused after death, proceedings have not been completed
• Andrew Meehan, assigned June 28, 1995 — Assigned to a "life of prayer and penance." An incident involving Meehan was reported in 2003. He reportedly hugged and kissed a victim who was 15 to 16 years old. The incident reportedly occurred in Salem.