The Review Board is a confidential advisory committee that advises the Cardinal in the assessment of complaints of child sexual abuse by a cleric and in his determination of the suitability of an accused cleric for ministry. The Board may offer advice on all aspects of these cases, however the role of the Review Board is not investigatory; the Review Board reviews investigations which have been conducted by the Delegate for Investigations (an Archdiocesan office comprised of professional investigators.)
In 2009, the Archdiocese combined the work of the Implementation and Oversight Advisory Committee and the Review Board into a single newly constituted Review Board. In addition to advising the Cardinal on addressing particular complaints, the Review Board also advises on policy matters relating to the protection of children. This is the model recommended by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and memorialized in the Essential Norms.
The Review Board is an ecumenical body comprised of psychologists, social workers, educators, retired law enforcement agents, survivors of clergy sexual abuse, parents, judges and pastoral ministers. Only one person is a member of the clergy of the Archdiocese and none of the other Board members are employees of the Archdiocese. The Cardinal appoints each member for a term of five (5) years, which can be renewed.
Review Board Chairperson:
Mary Jane Doherty, Ph.D., Special Assistant to the President, Regis College
(Former chairperson of the Archdiocese of Boston Implementation and Oversight Advisory Committee (IOAC)
Review Board Members:
Rabbi Laurence Bazer, Temple Beth Sholom, Framingham; certified pastoral counselor; Military Chaplain, LTC; board member of New England ADL and the Greater MetroWest CJP Planning Grant Committee
Rev. David Callahan, Pastor, St. Mary’s Parish, Quincy
Marie Donahue, Retired Deputy Superintendent of the Boston Police Department
Daniel O’Malley, Esq., Attorney and former Associate Justice of the District Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Eileen Perini, LICSW, founder of the Perini Family Survivors' Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Wilfrid L. Pilette, M.D., Board Certified Psychiatrist with over thirty years experience in the treatment of adolescents and adults while working in a variety of clinical, academic and administrative positions, as well as private practice
Donald L. Sherak, M.D., Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, with added qualifications in Forensic and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Distinguished Fellow, American Psychiatric Association; Member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (MATSA); Medical Director of Whitney Academy; Consultant to the May Institute for Neurorehabilitation and Education and the Springdale Education Center
Archdiocesan Staff for the Review Board:
Jay Crowley, Delegate for Investigations
Mark Dunderdale, Director, Office of Professional Standards and Oversight
Barbara Thorp, Director, Office of Pastoral Support and Child Protection
Rev. Robert Oliver, Promoter of Justice, JCD (advisor in Canon Law)
Rev. Robert Copp, Promoter of Justice , JCL (advisor in Canon Law)