Father Edward Paquette
Diocese of Burlington
Ordained: 1957
Removed: 1963
Laicized: 2009
Assignment History
- 1972-1974 Christ the King (Rutland, VT)
- 1975-1976 St. Augustine (Montpelier, VT)
- 1976-1978 Christ the King (Burlington, VT)
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Father Edward Paquette:
Father Edward Paquette was ordained for the Diocese of Fall River in Massachusetts. He served in the Diocese of Burlington in Vermont for approximately 6 years. According to media reports, in 1963, his priestly faculties were removed for being a serial sexual abuser of boys. He was sent to treatment in Indiana and worked in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
In 1972, he was accepted into the Diocese Burlington. Two years later, in 1974, he was sent to treatment, and then again in 1978, when his faculties were removed. According to an internal memo, the diocese “No longer could keep lid on things.”
Just before more complaints led to the priest’s termination in 1978, then Bishop John Marshall wrote a colleague, “Despite the demands of two sets of irate parents that ‘something be done about this,’ Father Paquette’s pastor and I are determined to take the risk of leaving him in his present assignment,” “Our thinking is that, knowing the awareness of others concerning his problem, Father Paquette will have reason for ‘self-control.’”
Child sexual abuse allegations against Father Paquette were reported in Massachusetts, Indiana, and Vermont, including the abuse of a hospitalized male teen who was a quadriplegic after a freak accident. A media report stated, “The personnel file of the former Rev. Edward Paquette, hidden by Vermont’s Catholic Church for nearly a half-century, contains a startling confession as to why leaders expelled the most problematic priest in the history in the state’s largest religious denomination.”
In April 2006, the first Vermont lawsuit was settled for $965,000. In March 2007, Father Paquette was named in another suit. In May 2008, a jury awarded one plaintiff $8.7 million. Another lawsuit against him was settled in July 2008. Another suit was tried in August 2008 but was declared a mistrial. In December 2008, a claim was settled for $3.6 million. Father Paquette was laicized in January 2009.
In October 2009, a jury awarded $2.2 million to a plaintiff. In May 2010, nineteen of twenty-six cases were settled, as well as three more which were on appeal. Father Paquette was living in Westfield, Massachusetts, serving in the Diocese of Springfield at the time.
In 2010, four more suits were filed. Eleven were settled in January 2013.
In September 2018, Father Paquette‘s name appeared publicly in the Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend’s list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors.
Prompted by an external review of their documents conducted by former FBI Assistant Director William Galvin, in January 2019, the Diocese of Fall River announced plans to release a list of credibly accused clergy.
In August 2019, Father Paquette‘s name appeared publicly on the Diocese of Burlington’s list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. As of 2019, Paquette resides in Massachusetts.
The attorneys at Horowitz Law have a long history of representing survivors of child sex abuse. If you or someone you know was abused by a priest in the Diocese of Burlington, please contact Horowitz Law today for a free consultation. We can help you understand your legal options and fight for the justice you deserve. The Burlington Diocese has filed for federal bankruptcy protection, and strict deadlines will soon be set by the bankruptcy court. Please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or e-mail sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com for a free consultation to discuss your options today.