9 Catholic Priests, 1 Church Employee Within Fall River Diocese Accused of Sexually Abusing Children Decades Ago, Attorney Says

By Jackson Cote
MassLive
January 23, 2020

https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/01/9-catholic-priests-1-church-employee-within-fall-river-diocese-accused-of-sexually-abusing-children-decades-ago-attorney-says.html

Nine Catholic priests and one church employee within the Diocese of Fall River were accused of child sexual abuse, an attorney announced this week.

The 10 men allegedly sexually abused at least one minor during a span of nearly 40 years, from 1947 to 1986, attorney Mitchell Garabedian said in a statement.

The diocese announced Sunday that two other retired Catholic priests, James F. Buckley and Edward J. Byington, were suspended from the ministry over allegations of child sexual abuse committed decades ago.

“I believe that the Catholic Church, although saying the right things, has not made meaningful changes to protect children and help victims try to heal,” said Garabedian, who is representing one of Byington’s alleged victims.

The nine accused priests were assigned to parishes in Assonet, Dennisport, East Falmouth, Fall River, New Bedford, North Attleboro and Taunton at the time of the alleged abuse, according to Garabedian. Their names are Jose Maria Bettencourt e Avila, John P. Cronin, Raymond W. McCarthy, Thomas Mulryan, James Nickel, Edward O. Paquette, James R. Porter, Gilbert J. Simoes and Maurice Souza.

Edward Lopes, a custodian at Santo Christo Church in Fall River, was also accused of child sexual abuse, Garabedian said.

The attorney said his office has successfully brought claims against all 10 individuals.

Bishop Edgar da Cunha announced last year his intention to publish a list of clergy against whom a credible allegation of abuse of a minor has been made in the past, according to the diocese. Garabedian called on the bishop to make the list available to the public. Releasing the names of the accused priests and Catholic church employees will help survivors heal, the attorney said.

“To not immediately release the list is a re-victimization of sexual abuse victims. It is time to end the secrecy, provide transparency and act in a positive manner,” Garabedian said.

The diocese said in a statement that its preparation of the list of accused priests is ongoing and that it hired an outside consultant to review personnel files of all priests, living or dead.

Robert Hoatson, president of Road to Recovery, a New Jersey-based group that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families, was demonstrating outside the Fall River Diocese’s office Tuesday, according to a statement from Hoatson.

The former New Jersey priest also requested that da Cunha release the list of priests accused of child sexual abuse, said Hoatson, who identified himself as a survivor of clergy sexual abuse.

The bishop appreciated Hoatson’s concerns, the diocese said, adding that it is taking time to provide a list that is “accurate and thorough."