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
Orlando man indicted for trafficking of a minor while stationed in Antarctica

Orlando Man Faces Indictment for Minor Trafficking While on Duty in Antarctica

Justin Vancott Harnish, a 29-year-old resident of St. Cloud, Florida, is facing…
Chicago shooting: Loyola student killed in Rogers Park shooting near beach, police say

Tragic Shooting in Rogers Park: Loyola Student Fatally Shot Near Chicago Beach

An 18-year-old Loyola University student was fatally shot early Thursday while walking…
American Airlines and Google say AI helped airplanes reduce trap heat

American Airlines and Google Collaborate to Utilize AI in Reducing Aircraft Heat Emissions

On Thursday, American Airlines and Google announced a breakthrough in reducing the…
Masked gunman kills Loyola Chicago college student in shooting near campus; police hunt for suspect

Loyola Chicago Student Fatally Shot Near Campus; Police Launch Search for Armed Suspect

A tragic incident unfolded early Thursday morning when a Loyola University Chicago…
Mamdani moves to sideline NYC police with new safety office under sweeping overhaul

Mamdani Introduces New Safety Office to Redefine NYC Policing Approach

On Thursday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani revealed plans to establish…
Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter drives tank in latest public appearance

Kim Jong Un’s Daughter Takes the Wheel: Teenager Spotted Driving Tank in Rare Public Outing

A striking set of photographs released by North Korea’s state news agency,…
Ex-Trump counterterror honcho Joe Kent peddles bizarre conspiracy theory that Israel had a hand in Charlie Kirk's murder

Unveiling the Controversy: Ex-Trump Official Joe Kent’s Shocking Claims on Israel’s Involvement in Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Murder

In a provocative development out of Washington, Joe Kent, the former head…
Texas woman with 37 felony theft charges released on bond after months on the run while on parole: report

Texas Fugitive with 37 Felony Theft Charges Released on Bond: A Shocking Turn in Parole Case

A familiar figure in the realm of felony theft, Dequavia Denise Rogers,…
JetBlue flight returns to Newark after engine failure, smoke prompts evacuation

Federal Investigation Launched into Close Call Incident Between Alaska Airlines and FedEx Planes at Newark Airport

Federal authorities have launched an investigation following a reported “near-miss” incident that…
Insane moment missile blows up feet away from reporter in Lebanon

Shocking Near Miss: Reporter Narrowly Escapes Missile Explosion in Lebanon

A terrifying incident unfolded on Thursday for a journalist and his team…
Small plane carrying 7 passengers crashes into crocodile-infested waters in Australia

Tragic Plane Crash: Aircraft with 7 Onboard Plummets into Crocodile-Infested Waters in Australia

A small aircraft carrying seven individuals crashed into waters known for crocodile…
Federal judge temporarily changes grand jury rules after Trump effort to charge members of Congress

Federal Judge Alters Grand Jury Protocol Amid Trump’s Bid to Indict Congress Members

Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, known for his frequent judicial clashes…