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
Family matriarch dies day after rescue from remote island that saw family swim ashore to escape boat fire

Tragic Turn: Family Matriarch Passes Away After Dramatic Rescue from Remote Island Following Boat Fire

A day after being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, a woman…
NFL news: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson out for Chicago Bears Week 8 matchup on Sunday

Lamar Jackson to Miss Week 8 Showdown: Ravens Face Bears Without Star Quarterback

BALTIMORE — The upcoming weekend marks a pivotal moment for the Baltimore…
Dramatic video shows NYPD officers rescuing a missing dog named Moose from beneath a Manhattan subway train

Watch: NYPD Heroes Save Missing Dog ‘Moose’ from Manhattan Subway Tracks

A dramatic rescue unfolded in Manhattan as officers from the New York…
Progressive Zohran Mamdani taking his case directly to Fox News’ conservative viewers

Progressive Powerhouse Zohran Mamdani Faces Fox News: A Bold Move to Connect with Conservative Viewers

Zohran Mamdani, a leading Democratic mayoral candidate known for his democratic socialist…
Jackson Chance Foundation to raise money for NICU families at 11th annual Ping Pong Ball at SPIN Chicago in River North

Join the 11th Annual Ping Pong Ball at SPIN Chicago to Support NICU Families with Jackson Chance Foundation

CHICAGO — The Jackson Chance Foundation is gearing up for its 11th…
Suburban woman has saved 3 lives with what is commonly known as Heimlich maneuver, most recently at Schaumburg High School

Suburban Heroine Uses Heimlich Maneuver to Save Three Lives, Latest at Schaumburg High School

A woman from the suburbs of Schaumburg, Illinois, has become a beacon…
A General Dilemma the War Department Must Remedy

War Department Faces Critical Challenge Needing Resolution

In the iconic film “White Christmas,” a song poses a poignant question…
Exclusive -- Trump-Endorsed Massie Challenger Ed Gallrein: Massie 'Not a Statesman'

Trump-Backed Ed Gallrein Criticizes Incumbent Massie, Labels Him as Lacking Statesmanship

During a recent appearance on News Saturday, Ed Gallrein, a seasoned farmer…
'Brazen' Louvre thieves made targeted heist, treasures could be melted down: expert

Inside the Heist: A Cinematic Jewel Theft Unfolds in Paris

Every now and then, journalists come across stories so extraordinary that even…
Serbian foreign minister proposes hosting Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations amid ongoing conflict

Serbia Offers Neutral Ground for Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks: A Diplomatic Step Towards Resolution

EXCLUSIVE: Marko Djuric, the Foreign Minister of Serbia, revealed to Fox News…
California union proposes taxing billionaires to offset Medicaid cuts for low-income people

California Union Advocates for Tax on Billionaires to Counteract Medicaid Reductions for Low-Income Residents

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Thursday, a significant union proposed a one-time 5%…
Carjacking victim arrested after allegedly shooting boy breaking into his car during Atlanta confrontation

Atlanta Carjacking Twist: Victim Faces Charges After Shooting Alleged Teenage Thief

An Atlanta man found himself in handcuffs after allegedly shooting a teenager…