Former Lowell Priest Accused Of Abuse
LOWELL (CBS) - A former Lowell priest, who died in a car crash as he headed to a new assignment in Canada, is the subject of the latest allegations of clergy sex abuse involving children.
Three former altar boys from Holy Trinity in Lowell are asking Attorney Carmen Durso to make their allegations public, in hopes of identifying other victims.
"My three clients have identified between 10 and 20 other individuals that they say were also abused by Father Chet, and they believe that there are even more than that," Durso told WBZ News Radio's Lana Jones.
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Father Chet was Czeslaw Szymanski, a native of Poland who served a short time in Rhode Island before reassignment to Lowell. He served as a parochial vicar at Holy Trinity from 1981 until 1987, before being transferred to Canada. Szymanski died later that year.
Durso said one of the things his clients want is an explanation for all of Szymanski's transfers.
In a written statement, the Boston archdiocese said that counseling had been offered to the men who came forward.
"We are troubled and saddened any time new allegations are brought to our attention and, today, we extend our concern and prayers for the individuals and parish communities impacted by this difficult news," the statement said. "We have notified law enforcement of these allegations and are awaiting additional detail from the claimants."
