Fall River priest faraway from ministry attributable to ‘credible’ allegations

A Fall River Catholic priest accused of sexual misconduct has been faraway from priestly duties, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River introduced, a yr after the allegations first got here to mild.

Father Jay Mello was first faraway from his duties and positioned on go away in June of 2024. He had been a pastor on the neighboring St. Michael and St. Joseph church buildings in Fall River since 2016. The diocese introduced the top of its investigation into Mello Tuesday.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha accomplished his personal unbiased evaluate, based on the diocese, and took into consideration suggestions from the Ministerial Evaluate Board of the Diocese of Fall River. The board primarily includes “lay individuals,” the diocese stated, which evaluated proof associated to the allegations.

The allegations in opposition to him don’t contain minors, based on the diocese.

Cunha “decided that some, although not all, of the allegations have been credible, together with credible allegations that Father Mello abused his place of energy as a priest and engaged in sexual misconduct with two parishioners he was counseling,” the diocese stated in an announcement.

Mello gained’t be returning to St. Michael and St. Joseph Parishes, and “he presently stays restricted from priestly ministry,” the discharge stated.

The priest was an lively member of the Fall River group, serving on the Faculty Committee for the Higher Fall River Regional Vocational Faculty District final yr. He’s not on the committee, in accordance to the district. He additionally served as chaplain of the Fall River Police Division.

“This investigation has been troublesome for a lot of in our Diocesan group and particularly for many who have been harmed by clergy abuse and misconduct,” da Cunha stated in an announcement. “My prayer is that the conclusion of the investigation can deliver some closure and therapeutic to the St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s Parishes.”

What are the allegations?

Mitchell Garabedian, who represents a shopper with claims in opposition to Mello, stated the person was sexually abused “in a violent vogue” by Mello round 2011 when the priest was consuming alcohol. The lawyer characterised the incident as an assault.

The person, who was involved in turning into a priest, then reported the sexual violence to Bishop George Coleman, who was Fall River’s bishop from 2003 to 2014, Garabedian stated.

“We’re not shocked,” Garabedian stated in regards to the resolution to take away Mello from service, “however why did it take the diocese so lengthy to make the choice?”

When Mello was positioned on go away final yr, he denied the allegations, based on the diocese. Just a few month later, da Cunha introduced publicly that Mello had admitted “severe sexual misconduct which started whereas counseling an grownup parishioner,” the The Herald Information reported in October.

‘The Catholic church can not self-police’

Garabedian, a widely known lawyer for clergy and sexual abuse victims, stated his shopper isn’t pursuing any expenses because of the statute of limitations. 

“I’m not shocked to listen to that there are different allegations as a result of sexual predators don’t molest only one particular person,” he stated in an interview with Boston.com. “They molest their whole lives once they’re ready.”

Anybody who has been abused or assaulted by clergy ought to name the police, Garabedian stated, after his shopper waited greater than a decade to see a consequence from talking with church management.

“It’s apparent that the diocese and the Catholic church can not self-police correctly. They do follow a canopy up, and the duvet up continues,” Garabedian stated. “They can’t pretty examine a declare of sexual abuse. They’re incapable due to self curiosity.”