BOSTON – Three people have filed a lawsuit against Boston Archdiocese Cardinal Sean O’Malley and two Catholic bishops alleging they were sexually abused as teenagers by former Arlington Catholic High School Principal Steven Biagioni
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who has represented victims of clergy sexual abuse for decades, said a civil lawsuit was filed Monday on behalf of the three alleged victims against O’Malley, Bishop Robert Deeley of the Diocese of Portland , Maine, and Bishop Peter Uglietto.
“All three victims allege they were sexually abused by Steven Biagioni while Steven Biagioni was vice principal and administrator at Arlington Catholic High School,” Garabedian said in a statement.
The alleged sexual abuse took place at Arlington Catholic High School from about 2011 to 2016, when the victims of sexual abuse were between the ages of 15 and 17, Garabedian said.
“Significantly, given that the years of the alleged sexual abuse are recent, it is clear that the Archdiocese of Boston and the Catholic Church still allow the sexual abuse of innocent children,” Garabedian said.
Terrence Donilon, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston, said in an email Tuesday, “We generally do not comment on active litigation.”
“That said, it is our understanding that some of the allegations in this lawsuit were brought to the attention of Arlington Catholic High School in 2016 and reported to appropriate law enforcement and child welfare authorities at that time as part of Arlington Catholic’s ongoing commitment to providing a safe environment for the youth at the school,” Donilon said. “The administrator in question was subsequently removed from his position and staff at Arlington Catholic and the Archdiocese of Boston cooperated fully with the investigating authorities.”
Founded in 1960, Arlington Catholic High School, located in Arlington, currently has more than 800 students in grades 9-12 representing more than 50 parishes in the archdiocese, according to the school’s website.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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