---

Reuters, USA
Feb. 23, 2004
Greg Frost
www.reuters.com

---

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 6160 • Posted: Tuesday February 24, 2004  

---

BOSTON (Reuters) – Patrick McSorley, a victim of defrocked pedophile priest John Geoghan who spoke openly of the deep scars left by clergy sexual abuse, has been found dead, his lawyer said on Monday.

Mitchell Garabedian, who represented McSorley and dozens of others who said they had been abused by Geoghan, confirmed reports that McSorley’s body had been found in downtown Boston, but declined further comment on the cause of death.

Boston police declined to comment, but said they had responded to a report of a “sudden death” in that neighborhood early on Monday.

“He was a loving father, a caring son, and a hero to all survivors of clergy abuse,” Garabedian said. He said he had spoken with McSorley on Friday and that he seemed “fine” at the time.

McSorley, 29, was a public face of the victims during the clergy sexual abuse scandal that erupted in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston two years ago.

Appearing frequently at news conferences alongside Garabedian, he criticized the church and spoke frankly about the inner demons with which he wrestled as a result of his abuse at Geoghan’s hands.

Geoghan was murdered last year in prison, and authorities have charged a fellow inmate with the slaying.

The archdiocese called McSorley’s passing “distressing.”

“I offer my prayers for the repose of Patrick’s soul and extend my condolences and heart-felt sympathy to his family and friends,” Boston Archbishop Sean O’Malley said in a statement.

A report detailing the scope of sexual abuse cases by Catholic clergy is to be released on Friday.

Last summer, McSorley nearly drowned in the Neponset River, and while he later told reporters he had not attempted suicide he was unable to explain how he came to be in the river.

A month after his near-drowning, McSorley was arrested on drugs charges in a Boston suburb.

---

What You Can Do From Here

---

Read More Articles On These Topics Categories: Catholic Church Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article Subscribe Religion News Blog RSS feed [What is this?] RSS by topic: Catholic Church Read Another Article Previous entry: International scam targets Utah Muslims Next entry: A Bible based diet aimed at Christians RNB Homepage with latest headlines Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books Catholic Church Most Popular Today ‘World’s biggest animal sacrifice’ begins Suicide soldier’s family calls for Scientology probe UK man fears cult leader release Scientology church rejects allegations in death of 14-month-old girl

---

Share This Article

---

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:

• Post a link on your blog or website:
  
• Send in an email or IM:
  
• Post on a forum:
  

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.