FRAMINGHAM — The Archdiocese of Boston announced Saturday that 91-year-old Monsignor Francis Strahan, the former pastor of Saint Bridget Parish in Framingham, has been cleared of allegations of sexual abuse of a minor and returned to public ministry as a senior priest.
According to a May 17, 2025, statement from the Archdiocese of Boston, the allegations dated back to approximately 2006 and were first reported in 2019. At that time, Monsignor Strahan was placed on administrative leave and law enforcement was immediately notified, in accordance with Archdiocesan child protection protocols.
In 2023, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office announced it would not pursue the case further. Following that decision, the Archdiocese completed its canonical investigation, which found the allegations lacked any “semblance of truth” and were “therefore unsubstantiated.”
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“These consistent findings allow Msgr. Strahan to return to public ministry,” the Archdiocese of Boston said in its statement. “We recognize the significant impact this has had on Monsignor Strahan, his loved ones, his parishioners and many priests. Allegations of abuse are often complex matters that take time and require the investigative bodies to be thorough and fair to all parties involved. It is during this process that allegations are weighed against the facts derived through investigation by secular law enforcement and by Archdiocesan investigators in keeping with canon law.”
The Archdiocese added that it is committed to assisting Monsignor Strahan, who is at an advanced age and currently a senior priest.
The Archdiocese reaffirmed its commitment to protecting minors and supporting survivors of clergy abuse, encouraging those in need of assistance to contact the Office of Pastoral Support and Outreach at 617-746-5985.
