SPRINGFIELD – Former Judge Peter Velis told members of the press on June 24 he received a definitive charge from Bishop Mitchell Rozanski as he began in investigations of allegations concerning former Bishop Christopher Weldon: “I want the truth. I demand the truth.”

That truth determined after a nearly year-long investigation was the accusations that Weldon had abused and raped a child were “unequivocally creditable.”

Rozanski apologized to the victim, who had brought the case to the diocese in 2014 and said, “In almost every instance, we have failed this man.”

The Diocesan Review Board had considered the case and Velis examined what that body had done to research the accusations.

Rozanski said the results were “heart-wrenching” and “deeply troubling.” He added, “The finding will be painful to many Catholics.”

The bishop’s reaction was to tell Trinity Health to rename the Weldon rehabilitation center; to remove all photos and references to Weldon in churches; and to exhume Weldon’s remains in Gate of Heaven Cemetery and bury them in a less prominent location. Weldon’s grave has a large stone marker and bronze statue.

He explained the investigation was undertaken so creditability about the accusations could be established and to examine how the diocese initially handled the case. Out of this investigation, Rozanski said the diocese would have the opportunity to make improvements.

Weldon was bishop of the diocese for nearly 32 years with his tenure ending with his resignation in 1977. He died in 1982.

 In 2004, Bishop Thomas Dupre resigned unexpectedly and fled Springfield when accusations of child molestation were to be made public. He died in 2017.

The Springfield Diocese was marked with many accusations of abuse by priests.

During the press conference, Velis revealed how the fact that Weldon was dead and could not defend himself troubled him. “Anyone has the right to challenge an accuser,” Velis added. He said that during the investigation he kept in mind that he had to represent Weldon’s interests as well.

Velis was assisted in the investigation by retired Springfield Police Detective Dennis O’ Connor and the result of the work was a 400-page report.

“It was not a savory experience by any stretch of the imagination,” Velis noted.

That is an understatement as the report does not mince words nor spare the grimmest details in the abuse case. The victim was abused in the 1960s while an altar boy serving at St. Anne’s Parish in Chicopee.

 The victim started recalling the events when he watched a television program in 2013 involving a tour of the Sistine Chapel. That program triggered his memories.

He said parish priests groomed him for the abuse and named the two. He did not tell his parents about the abuse from the bishop, and was struck by his father when he revealed the actions of one of the parish priests.

Velis interviewed many people to confirm certain details supplied by the victim in his interview, as well as examining documents and records.

Velis said the Diocesan Review Board’s process was “woefully deficient, albeit done in good faith at the time.”

Rozanski said a new task force would work with the district attorneys in Western Massachusetts in addressing abuse cases.