In recent years, accusations of spiritual manipulation and sexual abuse have continued to be brought against clerics and leaders of Catholic movements. In 2017, we Daughters of St. Paul learned that a number of our sisters had experienced the tragic evil of abuse and spiritual manipulation. What these sisters endured was deeply painful and harmful. In the hope of supporting their further healing and that of others who have undergone similar experiences, and so that together we may prevent such abuse from happening again, we provide below an account of what occurred.
In 2017, several sisters in our community came forward with reports of manipulation and abuse experienced during the course of spiritual direction with Fr. David Nicgorski, OMV, formerly the Superior General of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. For many years, Fr. Nicgorski was a trusted retreat director and friend of our community, as well as a spiritual director for some of our sisters. When the first sister brought forward an allegation against Fr. Nicgorski, we took immediate action and provided her with counseling, support, and resources. With her confidentiality as a priority, the Provincial Superior personally reached out to every sister who had received spiritual direction from Fr. Nicgorski. Through those conversations, she learned that other sisters had also experienced inappropriate and troubling encounters. Their accounts revealed a consistent pattern of behavior on the part of Fr. Nicgorski, despite their not having spoken with one another about this previously. Each sister who came forward was offered support, resources, and professional care.
Following the guidance of a canon lawyer, we reported the alleged abuses to the appropriate Church authorities in the Archdiocese of Boston. In 2017, Fr. Nicgorski was prohibited from any public ministry in the Archdiocese of Boston.
We also reported the alleged abuses to Fr. Nicgorski’s religious community, the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. In 2017, our then Provincial Superior, together with her predecessor, met with Fr. Nicgorski and his Provincial Superior to inform them—both verbally and in writing—that Fr. Nicgorski was prohibited from any further contact with any member of the community, and from visiting any of our locations.
Our Provincial Superior also communicated these restrictions placed on Fr. Nicgorski to all the sisters in the province, and she made herself available if anyone wanted to speak with her privately.
Under the direction of a canon lawyer with experience in clergy abuse cases, we compiled a report detailing the scope of Fr. Nicgorski’s alleged abuse among the sisters in our province. This report was submitted to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life at the Vatican.
Our civil attorneys were kept informed and involved throughout the process.
We condemn the abuse of spiritual authority as a serious violation that can cause long-lasting spiritual and emotional harm, and we remain deeply grieved by the betrayal of trust these sisters endured. Recognizing and naming abuse is extremely difficult—and we are grateful for the courage of those who came forward. As we continue to place this painful situation in the hands of a merciful God, who has the power to bring redemption to every aspect of our human experience, we commit to collaborating in the healing and transformation urgently needed within the Church.
Daughters of St. Paul
