Keith Townsend, a 52-year-old survivor of childhood sexual abuse, commented on the recent death of Ronald Paquin, a defrocked Catholic priest who died in custody at age 83 on 11 September. Townsend stated he hopes the clergyman’s passing will enable victims and their families to “keep pressing forward every single day,” though he acknowledged carrying emotional burdens from his experience.
Paquin became a central figure in the Boston Catholic archdiocese clergy abuse scandal that was documented in the Oscar-winning film Spotlight. In 2002, Paquin pleaded guilty to sexually abusing an altar server at St John the Baptist church in Haverhill, Massachusetts between 1989 and 1992. The scandal prompted the resignation of Boston’s archbishop, Bernard Law, and led to policy reforms across the U.S. Catholic Church. After being released from prison in 2015, Townsend came forward with allegations that Paquin had abused him during camping trips to Maine between 1985 and 1989 when he was between ages 8 and 13.
A Maine grand jury indicted Paquin in 2017 on charges of gross sexual misconduct. Following a jury trial in November 2018, Paquin was convicted regarding Townsend’s case, though acquitted on charges related to another individual. Maine judge Wayne Douglas sentenced him to 16 additional years in prison in May 2019. Paquin was incarcerated at Mountain View correctional facility in Charleston, Maine, at the time of his death.
Townsend reflected on his own recovery from substance abuse and addiction that followed the abuse, describing his work to overcome these challenges as one of the biggest obstacles he faced. He stated his motivation in pursuing charges was to protect children and prevent others from experiencing similar harm. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who has represented numerous clergy abuse victims and was portrayed in Spotlight, noted that the film provided survivors with awareness they were not alone in their experiences.
Townsend concluded that imprisoning Paquin for his remaining years “saved lives” and represented what ultimately mattered to him.
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