The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts has retained a retired state judge to investigate sex abuse allegations against a deceased bishop.
Retired Superior Court Judge Peter Velis will investigate claims that Bishop Christopher Weldon sexually abused an alter boy in the 1960s.
Because of a public dispute between the alleged victim and the Diocesan Review Board, Bishop Mitchel Rozanski decided to seek an independent third party to conduct the investigation, according to diocesan spokesman Mark Dupont.
" And Bishop Rozanski was very grateful to Judge Velis for stepping up and being willing to assist us in this investigation," said Dupont.
There is no deadline for the completion of the investigation.
Rozanski met last month with the man who said he testified to the review board more than a year ago, but the panel had not reported a credible allegation against Weldon.
