In 2004, Dupré was indicted (but not prosecuted) on two counts of child molestation. He was the first American Catholic bishop to be indicted in the church sexual abuse scandal of the 20th century.
Dupré was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Springfield by Bishop Christopher Weldon in Springfield on May 23, 1959.[2] After his ordination, Dupré served as an assistant pastor at St. George's Parish in Chicopee, Massachusetts until 1964. He was then sent to study at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[3] Returning to Springfield in 1966, Dupré had the following parish assignments in the diocese:
On February 10, 2004, The Springfield Republican published what it called credible accusations against of sexual abuse of minors. The accusers were two men who served as altar boys with Dupré during the 1970's. They said that he gave them alcohol, showed them pornography and sexually assaulted them on several occasions[4] Dupré was also accused by local clergy of covering up abuse charges against several other priests, including Richard R. Lavigne.[1]
Retirement and legacy
Dupré's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield for health reasons was accepted on February 11, 2004, by Pope John Paul II.[2] Dupré resigned at age 71, four years before the normal retirement age allowed for a bishop.
On September 24, 2004, Dupré was indicted by a Hampden County grand jury on two counts of child molestation.[5] He thus became the first American Catholic bishop to be indicted during the sexual abuse scandal of the late 20th century.[6] However, the Springfield district attorney's office was forced to drop the charges because the statute of limitations had run out.[6] Dupré then entered St. Luke Institute, a private Catholic psychiatric hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland. [7]
In June 2010, a judge released a transcript and videotape of Dupré's deposition for a civil lawsuit. At the start of the deposition, Dupré states his name and date of birth. After that, he pleads the Fifth Amendment, a constitutional protection against self-incrimination, to each question over the next three hours.[8] Dupré eventually moved to the residence for retired priests in the Archdiocese of Washington in Washington, D.C., leading a life of "prayer and penance."[7]
Dupré died in Silver Spring, Maryland, on December 30, 2016. His funeral in Springfield was private.[9]
"to vote for the candidate who will promote what is good and oppose what is evil, who will promote the culture of life and oppose the culture of death, who will promote the well-being of society and oppose its moral disintegration."[10]
