Worcester Soup Kitchen Leader On Leave After Sex Abuse Claim

WORCESTER, MA — After abuse allegations by women in the Worcester area, St. John's Church placed the leader of the church's food assistance program on administrative leave this week, according to multiple reports.

The Catholic news site Crux reported on Wednesday the church placed food for the poor coordinator Billy Riley on leave after an allegation filed on March 11. A third party will investigate the allegation for the church, according to the report.

The group Living in Freedom Together, a Worcester organization that helps people leave the sex trade, said in a statement that it has been "common knowledge" for years that abuse had been going on at the food pantry. LIFT also said complaints had been filed with St. John's leadership in the past.

"This was reported to the leadership at St. John's over the years and the abuse of vulnerable women continued because the church failed to act in any way," the statement said. "When survivors are telling you that they are experiencing abuse, we, as a community, need to listen and act."

LIFT founder Nicole Bell told Crux she began seeking help at the St. John's soup pantry in 2011 when she was homeless. Over time, she was asked to trade sex for assistance. A second woman spoke to Crux anonymously, describing similar abuse.

Riley has been in charge of St. John's food assistance programs, including a soup kitchen and pantry, for over a decade. Riley is well known in Worcester, and was honored by the Worcester Red Sox last spring for his work at the soup kitchen.

In its statement, LIFT said it has little confidence the church will fully investigate the allegation.

"Given its years of inaction, it is clear that the diocese is reluctant, at best, to acknowledge the situation let alone take responsibility for it," the statement said.