Eight clergymen with ties to Braintree were named in the list of clergy accused of sexually abusing children that was released by the Boston Catholic Archdiocese recently.

The cases mentioned span the better part of six decades, and in many cases, including three with a Braintree connection, the individuals accused of abuse have since died.

The 159 names on the list aren't necessarily news in themselves, but it is the first time the Church has officially released the information.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley explained in a letter that he chose to withhold the names of certain priests, however, particularly ones that were never publicly charged while they were alive.

Out of 248 priests and two deacons accused of child sex abuse since 1950, 91 names were not released. That group includes deceased priests who weren't publicly accused, priests working in Boston under religious orders or other dioceses and those named in unsubstantiated accusations that didn't go public.

O'Malley was quickly criticized by advocates for clergy abuse victims and Attorney General Martha Coakley for not going far enough and releasing those names as well.

The list last week was broken into five categories, A-E. Category "A" cases were those where the accused was found guilty either by the Church, the state or both, and was either dismissed from office or sentenced to a life of prayer and penance and/or faced criminal charges.

The Braintree priests on the list were: 

• John P. Carroll, who served at Saint Francis of Assisi in Braintree from April 13, 1962 to Feb. 10, 1963 after he was ordained in 1953. He also served in several other places, including West Newton, Dedham and Pittsburgh, PA. Carroll ended his service as a Parochial Vicar in Quincy. He is on administrative leave and his case is in progress. Category C – living, already publicized, not resolved.



• Thomas F. Dempsey, who served at Saint Clare Parish in Braintree from June 6, 1972 to Dec. 16, 1974. He also served in several other places, including Weymouth, Cohasset and Framingham. Dempsey ended his Boston-area service as a Parochial Vicar in the Sacred Heart Parish in Weymouth in 1989. He pled guilty to criminal charges in Wisconsin in 1997. Category A – cases concluded canonically or criminally. Died 1998.



• William H. Morgan, who served at Saint Thomas More in Braintree from Nov. 4, 1986 to June 30, 1993. He also served in several other places, including Canton, Hingham and Boston and retired as a senior priest in 1993. He was ordained in 1950. Category E – criminal or cannonical proceedings not complete, but case publicized. Died 1999.



• William V. O'Neill, who served at Saint Francis of Assisi from Nov. 27, 1931 to Sept. 29, 1942 after being ordained in 1931. He also served in Everett, Rowley and South Boston. Category E – criminal or cannonical proceedings not complete, but case publicized. Died in 1960.



• Raymond C. Plourde, who served at Saint Clare Parish from Sept. 27, 1966 to June 19, 1967 after being ordained in 1958. He also served in several other places, including Brockton, Salem and Newburyport. He was assigned to a life of prayer and pennance in 2004. Category A – cases concluded canonically or criminally.



• Paul R. Shanley, who served at Saint Francis of Assisi from June 20, 1967 to July 1, 1969 after being ordained in 1960. He also served in several other places, including Roxbury, Milton and Newton. He was dismissed in 2004 and convicted on criminal charges in 2005. Category A – cases concluded canonically or criminally.



• Patrick J. Tague, who served at Saint Thomas More from Sept. 22, 1964 to Sept. 20, 1965 after being ordained in 1963. He also served in other locations, including Somerville, Lowell and Hingham. He was dismissed in 2006. Category A – cases concluded canonically or criminally.



• Paul J. Tivnan, who served at Saint Francis of Assisi from Oct. 13, 1987 to Jan. 31, 1991 after being ordained in 1963. He also served in several other locations, including Weymouth, Needham and South Boston. He was assigned to a life of prayer and penance in 2004. Category A – cases concluded canonically or criminally.