A Boston Archdiocese priest has been accused of sexually abusing a student at least 100 times in the late 1970s at a Catholic school in Everett, one of the many places where he was assigned by the archdiocese, according to the alleged victim’s lawyer and the official Catholic Directory.

The late Rev. Michael J. Regan allegedly abused the girl from approximately 1977 to 1980, when she was about 14 to 17 years old and the priest was a teacher at Pope John XXIII High School, Mitchell Garabedian said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Regan allegedly threatened to prevent her from graduating if she did not comply with his sexual demands, said Garabedian, who has represented hundreds of clergy sex abuse victims worldwide.

“My client was terrified,” he said.

Since she was often called to Regan’s office during the 2-½ years, Garabedian said, it’s probable that the school’s administrators knew that she was being abused by him.

But by her senior year, he said, she told Regan, “That’s it. You’re not doing it anymore,” and Regan left her alone after that.

“By reporting the abuse, the courageous clergy sexual abuse victim is sending a message that clergy sexual abuse is immoral, despicable and unacceptable,” Garabedian said. “She’s trying to heal and help other clergy sexual abuse victims trying to heal and making the world a safer place for children.”

The lleged victim came forward about two years ago, and the matter was settled in the high five figures by the Boston Archdiocese late last year, he said, but Cardinal Sean O’Malley never released the priest’s name as an accused child molester or the places where he worked.

According to the Catholic Directory, Regan was assigned to the following:

1962 – 1966: Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Concord
1967 – 1968 sick leave, usually “code,” Garabedian said, for being sent to a treatment center for pedophiles
1969 – 1972: Academy of the Assumption in Wellesley Hills
Elizabeth Seton High School in Wellesley Hills
Mount St. Vincent Center in Wellesley Hills
1973 – 1976: St. Joseph’s Church in Malden
1977 – 1981: Liturgical Commission in LynnSt. Joseph’s Church in Malden
Pope John XXIII Central High School in Everett
1982 – 1984: St. Joseph’s Church in Malden, MA
Pope John XXIII Central High School in Everett
1985 – 1986: St. Joseph’s Church in Malden
1987 – 1988: St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Bridgewater
1989 – 1992: Brockton Vicariate
St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Bridgewater
1993 – 1997: St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Bridgewater
1998 – 2001: St. Bridget’s Church in Abington
Permanent Disability
2002 – 2005: St. Bridget’s Church in Abington
2006 – 2019: Retired

“Our records indicate he had a very stable assignment history, including those lasting greater than 10 years,” said Terrance Donilon, a spokesman for the archdiocese. “No substantiated claim of abuse was received while he was living.”

Regan died on May 4, 2020.

Fr. Michael J. Regan, a deceased priest of the Boston Archdiocese, to be named publicly for the first time as a sexual abuser of a young girl at Pope John XXIII High School (closed) in Everett, MA.  The woman has received a financial settlement from the Archdiocese of Boston.

Fr. Michael J. Regan was assigned at different times to at least three elementary and/or high schools and parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Boston, including in the towns of Wellesley, Malden, Concord, Abington, and Bridgewater

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A press conference and demonstration announcing that a Boston Archdiocesan priest, Michael J. Regan, will be named publicly for the first time because of a financial settlement reached with his minor female victim and the Boston Archdiocese.  The minor female was repeatedly sexually abused by Fr. Michael J. Regan at Pope John XXIII High School in Everett, MA in the early 1980s.