Priest who crusaded against sex abuse now accused

A Boston Priest Who Pushed for Removal of Cardinal Law Now Faces Abuse Allegations

A lawsuit has been filed alleging that Father Walter Cuenin, a Boston-area Catholic priest known for advocating the removal of Cardinal Bernard Law in a church abuse scandal, is now facing allegations of sexual misconduct himself.

The lawsuit claims that Cuenin forced a 20-year-old male Brandeis University student to engage in oral sex with him in a Manhattan hotel room during a trip to New York City a decade ago.

Cuenin gained prominence over two decades ago for his role in leading a group of nearly 60 Catholic pastors who called for Law’s resignation after a scandal revealed a cover-up of widespread sexual abuse within the church.

The lawyer representing the male victim, Mitchell Garabedian, who was instrumental in exposing the church abuse scandal, stated that Cuenin appeared to have forgotten his own actions when calling for Law’s resignation.

When questioned about the allegations, Cuenin denied any sexual misconduct, claiming that no such incident took place in the hotel room.

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, details how Cuenin allegedly invited the victim to a concert in New York City and then engaged in inappropriate behavior with him at a hotel.

Despite Cuenin confirming parts of the trip, he denied claims of sexual talk or contact during the stay at the hotel.

The lawsuit also mentions the emotional distress suffered by the victim as a result of the alleged abuse.

Garabedian, known for his work in fighting church abuse, has been a prominent figure in seeking justice for survivors.

Cuenin, who supported causes like gay marriage and women priests, served as a chaplain at Brandeis University for nearly a decade before leaving for medical reasons shortly after the alleged incident.

Despite his departure from the Boston Archdiocese in 2005, Cuenin continued his work advocating for justice and found a new home at Brandeis University.

Efforts to reach Brandeis University and the Boston Archdiocese for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.