A new report is detailing decades of secrecy surrounding clergy sexual abuse in three Massachusetts dioceses.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office linked 270 priests to the abuse of nearly one-thousand children in Worcester, Fall River and Springfield.

Investigators say church leaders sometimes transferred accused priests or failed to restrict them despite credible allegations.

The report also found some diocesan officials knew about allegations against seminarians before they became priests.

"I want to assure the community that the healing of survivors and the enforcement of professional standards and policies to prevent any future occurrence of abuse have been and continues to be our top priorities. The Fall River Diocese is focused on the ongoing safety of our community and instilling a culture of protection, according to Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha of the Fall River Diocese.

"We have taken a number of important steps to build that culture of protection, including:

Publishing, five years ago, a list of clergy against whom a credible allegation of abuse of a minor has been made, going back more than 70 years. That list remains on our website.

Reporting to law enforcement all accusations of abuse of a child even when the victim is no longer a child

Entering into agreements with all three of the District Attorneys in our Diocese to provide (without subpoena) documents to assist in any investigation alleging clergy abuse.

Strengthening our protocols for handling allegations and responding to those impacted by abuse.

Enhancing our Office of Safe Environment and hiring a licensed social worker to serve as Director of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance, along with staff in the positions of Coordinator of Compliance and Data; Coordinator of CORI and Safe Environment Training; and Catholic Schools Background Screening Specialist.

Requiring all personnel to submit to a background check, agree to a code of conduct, and complete a Safe Environment Training Program. This includes CORI and NSOPW checks for everyone who works, ministers and volunteers in the Diocese and, in the case of schools, fingerprint checks.

Created a new Ministerial Review Board composed of mostly lay members with an expanded mandate that includes independence and authority.

"During my time as Bishop, I have learned much about the best practices for protecting children and vulnerable adults in our care. We have changed past practices and have implemented new policies that center on accountability and transparency in our operations" according to the Bishop.

Several priests identified in the report were later convicted of sexually abusing children.

(Photo by Tom Nicholson/Getty Images)

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