Springfield Diocese Adds New Name to Allegations Listing

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield has issued a quarterly update to the online listing of "Finding of Credibility of Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor."
 
The update is part of the diocese's commitment to provide regular communications regarding safe environment efforts.
 
Effective Monday, Nov. 29,  the name of the late Rev. Joseph P. Quinlan has been added to the online list based on a credible finding by the diocesan Review Board. Quinlan was ordained in 1971 and died in 1989. The abuse reported in this allegation dates back to 1974 and involved a minor.
 
Quinlan’s full assignment listing can be found here. They appear to be mainly in the Springfield area. 
 
An allegation being found credible does not mean a finding of guilt and because he was deceased when the allegation was brought forward, Quinlan was unable to respond to this allegation. Nonetheless, the Review Board carefully reviewed this allegation, including a report issued by the diocesan investigative team, and found this allegation to be credible.
 
The diocese encourages anyone who has information on misconduct to report this directly to law enforcement as well as to the Office of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance at 413-452-0624, via the hotline at 1-800 842-9055, or by email to reportabuse@diospringfield.org.

Tags: sex abuse,   

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Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

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