Nine Catholic priests and a church worker from the Diocese of Fall River have been charged with child sexual abuse, a lawyer announced this week.
The 10 men allegedly sexually abused at least one minor for 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, have been suspended from ministry over allegations of child sexual abuse committed decades ago.
“I believe the Catholic Church, while saying the right things, has not made meaningful changes to protect children and help victims trying to heal,” said Garabedian, who represents one of the alleged victims. of Byington.
The nine accused priests were assigned to the parishes of 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 caretaker at Santo Christo Church in Fall River, was also charged with child sexual abuse, Garabedian said.
The attorney said his office successfully filed charges against the 10 people.
Bishop Edgar da Cunha announced plans last year to publish a list of clergy against whom a credible allegation of child abuse has been made in the past, according to the diocese. Garabedian called on the bishop to make the list available to the public. Disclosure of the names of accused priests and Catholic church workers will help survivors heal, the lawyer said.
“Not immediately publishing the list is a re-victimization of victims of sexual abuse. It’s time to end the secrecy, provide transparency and act positively,” Garabedian said.
The diocese said in a statement that the preparation of the list of accused priests is underway and that it has hired an outside consultant to review the personal files of all priests, living or deceased.
Robert Hoatson, president of Road to Recovery, a New Jersey-based group that helps victims of sexual abuse and their families, was protesting outside the Fall River Diocese office on Tuesday, according to a statement from Hoatson.
The former New Jersey priest also asked da Cunha to release the list of priests accused of child sex abuse, said Hoatson, who identified himself as a survivor of clergy sex abuse.
The bishop appreciated Hoatson’s concerns, the diocese said, adding that it takes time to provide an “accurate and complete” list.
Survivors of clergy abuse can get more information about the cases and view a national database of accused priests at AbusLawsuit.coman organization that provides resources and legal support to victims of institutional sexual abuse.
