Convicted former Catholic priest exposed by Spotlight investigation dies at 87
Share this @internewscast.com

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — James Talbot, a former Catholic priest found guilty of sexually abusing boys in both Maine and Massachusetts following exposure by a probe depicted in the film “Spotlight,” has passed away. He was 87 years old.

Talbot, who was an ex-Jesuit, appeared on a list released by the northeastern Jesuit order of individuals with credible accusations of child sexual abuse. Talbot passed away on Feb. 28 at a hospice facility in St. Louis, according to Mike Gabriele, a representative for Jesuits USA East.

Talbot was one of the cases included in The Boston Globe’s award-winning investigation into priest sexual misconduct that earned a Pulitzer Prize in 2003 and inspired the 2015 movie “Spotlight.” The investigation uncovered extensive sexual abuse and a systematic coverup within the Catholic Church. Jesuits USA East did not issue a statement regarding Talbot’s passing.

He pleaded guilty in 2018 to gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual for sexually abusing a 9-year-old boy at a Maine church in the 1990s. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

Prior to the Maine conviction, Talbot spent six years in prison after pleading guilty to raping and sexually assaulting two students in Boston. He has settled lawsuits with more than a dozen victims in addition to the convictions.

Talbot was a former teacher and athletic coach at Boston College High School from 1972 to 1980 before he was transferred to Maine, where he worked at Cheverus High School in Portland until 1998.

Former Boston College High School student Jim Scanlan, 63, reported Talbot’s abuse in Massachusetts. The Associated Press doesn’t typically use the names of sexual assault victims without their consent, which Scanlan provided. His reports led to charges against Talbot.

Scanlan said he has reached out to others who were abused by Talbot. He said he holds people in positions of power within the church accountable for allowing Talbot to continue abusing children over many years.

Scanlan said he has tried to deal with his anger at Talbot, but it’s a long process.

“The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference,” Scanlan said. “Maybe I just parked him away a long time ago, resolved I couldn’t change what happened.”

Jesuits USA East said Talbot had been residing at the Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer, Missouri, prior to entering hospice care. The center cares for sexually abusive priests and provides other health care services.

Talbot’s case was emblematic of a pattern of behavior in the Catholic church about how it dealt with sexual abuse and priests. Accusations against him went back decades, and in that time he was transferred to new jurisdictions.

Allegations of a cover-up went all the way up to Cardinal Bernard Law, the former archbishop of Boston. The Globe investigation revealed Law and his predecessors had transferred abusive priests from parish to parish without alerting authorities, or parents. Law died in 2017.

The investigation into the Catholic church opened up wider queries into sex abuse in other religious institutions that uncovered abuse in other faiths and the Boy Scouts.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Pope Leo tours Istanbul's famous Blue Mosque, declines to pray alongside imam

Pope Leo Visits Istanbul’s Iconic Blue Mosque, Chooses Not to Pray with Imam

Pope Leo XIV visited Istanbul’s renowned Blue Mosque on Saturday, choosing to…
Local Spotlight: Pick a Medicare Advantage Plan, Here's What to Consider

Community Focus: Key Considerations for Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan

CHICAGO — As the deadline to choose a Medicare Advantage Plan approaches,…
San Francisco doctor's steady hand masters the art of surgery

Discover How a San Francisco Surgeon Perfects Precision in the Operating Room

SAN FRANCISCO — Discipline, creativity, and precision are essential traits for an…
Tom Stoppard: British playwright, who won Academy Award for 'Shakespeare In Love,' dies at 88

Renowned Playwright and ‘Shakespeare In Love’ Oscar Winner Tom Stoppard Passes Away at 88

Renowned British playwright Tom Stoppard, celebrated for his playful yet insightful works…
Chicago Public Schools policy allows unlimited absences for illegal alien children amid ICE operations

Chicago Public Schools Introduces Flexible Absence Policy for Undocumented Students During ICE Activities

EXCLUSIVE ON FOX: Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have implemented a policy granting…
Afghan National Freed Under Biden Program Arrested After TikTok Bomb Threat in Fort Worth

Controversial Release: Afghan National’s TikTok Bomb Threat Shakes Fort Worth After Biden Program Grant

An Afghan national, who entered the United States through President Biden’s Operation…
Texas girl rescued after sand hole she was digging collapses, burying her

Heroic Rescue: Texas Girl Saved After Sand Hole Collapse During Beach Outing

A 12-year-old girl found herself in a perilous situation in Texas when…
Asking Eric: Husband does housework while wife plays online games

Role Reversal: How One Husband’s Chores Empower His Wife’s Gaming Passion

Dear Eric, I am a 47-year-old man who has been married to…
Hegseth slams report on boat strike targeting attack survivors, denies war crimes

Hegseth Criticizes Allegations of Boat Strike on Attack Survivors, Refutes War Crime Claims

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has vehemently dismissed allegations suggesting that he commanded…
Zootopia 2: Meet the voices behind some new characters in Disney-animated sequel, including Fortune Feimster and Ke Huy Quan

Disney Unveils New Voices for ‘Zootopia 2’: Fortune Feimster and Ke Huy Quan Join the Animated Sequel

LOS ANGELES — Disney’s highly anticipated “Zootopia 2” is making waves at…
Rangers fail to duplicate road success at MSG, fall to 2-8-1 at home after loss to Lightning

Rangers Struggle to Replicate Road Triumphs at MSG, Suffer 2-8-1 Home Record with Loss to Lightning

By Allan Kreda The New York Rangers are currently leading the NHL…
James Patterson claims Marilyn Monroe was murdered in explosive new book theory

Unveiling the Mystery: James Patterson’s Bold New Theory on Marilyn Monroe’s Alleged Murder

Renowned author James Patterson has expressed his belief that the iconic Marilyn…