Second Boston priest in abuse claims

The records allegedly prove years of abuse

Allegations of sex abuse against a second priest in the Archdiocese of Boston have been made public following the release of church records as part of a lawsuit by his alleged victims.

I believe he molested hundreds over his 30-year reign of terror and I hope he rots in hell

Alleged victim Gregory Ford

It is alleged that the Reverend Paul Shanley was allowed to continue ministering within the diocese despite admitting to his superiors that he had raped and sodomised children.

The papers released reportedly indicate that Mr Shanley had a long history of abuse allegations, yet was given glowing recommendations by the Archdiocese when he moved to California's San Bernadino diocese.

"This man was a monster in the Archdiocese of Boston for many, many years," said Roderick MacLeish, who is representing the priest's accusers.

Allegations

More than 800 documents were shown to reporters at a news conference in Boston as part of the discovery process.

Mr Shanley's current whereabouts are unknown

The documents reportedly show that Mr Shanley was an outspoken advocate of sex between young boys and adults and was a supporter of the controversial group the North American Man-Boy Love Association.

There are several plaintiffs in the suit, including 24-year-old Gregory Ford, who alleges he was repeatedly raped by the priest in the 1980s.

"I believe he molested hundreds over his 30-year reign of terror and I hope he rots in hell," he told Reuters news agency at a news conference.

Mr Shanley, 71-years-old, now lives in San Diego, California but his exact whereabouts are currently unknown.

Recurring pattern

The pattern of events in Mr Shanley's case is markedly similar to the case of fellow Boston priest John Geoghan, sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this year for molesting a 10-year-old boy.

Geoghan has been accused by more than 130 people of molesting them over a 30-year period as he was moved from parish to parish in the Boston diocese.

The church is thought to have paid out at least $45 million to settle the suit, and there have been calls for the archdiocese's Cardinal Bernard Law to resign.

Earlier this week the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland announced it had suspended 10 priests pending investigations into allegations that they sexually abused children in the past.