The Diocese of Worcester says it is investigating a man who works at a church-run food pantry following three allegations against him
The Diocese of Worcester says it is investigating a worker at its church-run food pantry after three allegations were made against him in the last week.
The worker is a longtime employee at St. John’s Church and has been honored for his charity work by the city and several other organizations. Because he has not been charged criminally, NBC10 Boston is not naming him.
The Diocese says it received a formal complaint on March 11 and launched an investigation “of claims of illegal activity involving adults.”
“Given the seriousness of the allegations, the Bishop authorized hiring an independent third-party investigator by the diocese for a thorough investigation of this complaint, the Diocese said in a statement.
The Worcester Police Department says no one has filed a report in regards to the allegations, and as such, there is no current active investigation.
“The Diocese of Worcester takes any allegations of wrongdoing on the part of ordained and lay employees and volunteers seriously,” the Diocese said. “If any illegal actions are identified by the independent investigators, they will be immediately reported to the Worcester Police Department.”
The Diocese says the man has been on administrative leave since March 11. Calls and texts to the man were not returned.
Diocese of Worcester, MA, Catholic parish soup kitchen supervisor allegedly exchanged food for sex from at-risk and vulnerable women
The supervisor of Worcester’s St. John Parish’s soup kitchen may have sexually assaulted at-risk and vulnerable women since he started the position in 2013
A courageous woman who was a regular at the St. John’s Parish Soup Kitchen and was allegedly sexually assaulted by the soup kitchen supervisor came forward to report the alleged sexual abuse and should be hailed as a hero
MEDIA RELEASE – MARCH 16, 2022
What
A demonstration and press conference (with Zoom invitation) expressing outrage at the alleged sexual abuse of at-risk and vulnerable women at St. John’s Parish, Worcester, Soup Kitchen. Women who thought they were going to be fed meals by the soup kitchen instead were allegedly sexually assaulted by the soup kitchen’s supervisor identified in media as Billy Riley.
When
Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 11:30 am
Where
On the public sidewalk outside St. John’s Parish Food for the Poor Program at 20 Temple Street, Worcester, MA 01604
