Msgr. Henry Boltz – Diocese of Portland

Msgr. Henry Boltz
Diocese of Portland

Ordained: 1920

Retired: 1966

Died: 1970

Assigned as follows:

St. Mary Cathedral (Calgary, AB)
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Portland, ME)
St. Bernard Church (Rockland, ME)

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Msgr. Henry Boltz:

Msgr. Henry Boltz was ordained a priest in 1920, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Portland. As the organist and music director for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, Boltz led a renowned male choir called the Cathedral Choristers. He also had a private cabin on the grounds of Camp Pesquasawasis ("Camp Pesky"), a church-run camp on Poland's Worthley Pond.

According to media reports, Msgr. Boltz is the most prominent Catholic priest to face allegations of sexual abuse in Maine. A former priest and director of Camp Pesky recalled that Boltz had a relationship with a teenage boy who was a member of the camp's staff. The boy accompanied Msgr. Boltz on shopping trips and to the movies and frequently visited Boltz at his private cabin. These visits continued until the camp director called a meeting and told his staff that they were prohibited from visiting Boltz's cabin. Soon after, Msgr. Boltz left the camp.

According to documents released by the Maine Attorney General's Office in 2005, three men reported allegations of child sexual abuse in the 1940's and 1950's against Msgr. Boltz. One of the alleged victims reported that Boltz routinely abused him physically, mentally, and sexually between 1944-1951 when the victim was between the ages of 10-17. The alleged abuse involved fondling and, on one occasion, the physical abuse resulted in the victim splitting his head. The victim also recalled being taken to Msgr. Boltz's cabin at Camp Pesky where he slept with "one eye open."

In a letter dated March 28, 2002, another victim claimed that he was "sexually accosted" by Msgr. Boltz twice in 1949 when he was a student at Cathedral Grammar School. The victim did not provide any details regarding the nature of alleged abuse. The third victim reported to the Diocese of Portland that he was sexually abused by Boltz in 1950 when he was in the eighth grade. The alleged victim did not provide details of the abuse; however, he claims that Boltz groomed him with clothing and gifts.

Msgr. Boltz died in 1970.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Portland in Maine. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Maine, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Portland now have legal options, but filing deadlines may apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Maine and nationwide. We can help.

Msgr. Henry Boltz – Diocese of Portland