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« Chicken products recalled | Today | Teenager who died in Providence car crash is identified » March 17, 2008Priest removed from ministry amid sex allegationA retired Massachusetts priest, who allegedly committed sexual misconduct with a child at a residence in 1979, has been removed from the ministry. The Rev. Bento R. Fraga was a pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Attleboro at the time, the Diocese of Fall River said today in a news release. The diocese learned of the allegation in January and, per policy, turned the issue over to the Review Board. "After a full investigation, although Father Fraga has denied the allegation, the board has determined that the allegation is credible," the statement said. The statement does not go into specifics of the allegations, but says it was a "single claim of sexual misconduct with a minor." The diocese states that it has reported the allegation to the Barnstable County District Attorney's office. Fraga retired as pastor in June 2005 and has not been assigned to any parish since then. But, until this decision, he had the "faculties," or permission, to continue ministering as a priest. During retirement, he opted to reside at St. Anthony Parish in Taunton, Mass., "where he frequently assisted," the diocese said. Bishop George W. Colemen's letter about Fraga's removal was distrubuted at this weekend's Masses at all parishes where Fraga had served since his 1956 ordination. Bishop Coleman is "deeply troubled by this matter," the diocese said, and at his request, Catholic Social Services counselors were at weekend Masses at the two Taunton parishes -- St. Anthony's and St. Paul's -- where Fraga most recently served. The diocese asked that anyone with information that might help in the case should contact Arlene McNamee of Catholic Social Services' Office of Children Protection at (508) 674-4681, the Barnstable County District Attorney's office at (508) 362-8110 or the Bristol County District Attorney's office at (508) 997-0711. The diocese statement listed Fraga's assigments as: * 1956, assigned assistant, St. John of God Parish, Somerset. * 1969, assigned assistant, St. Joseph Parish, Taunton. * 1972, assigned assistant, Holy Ghost Parish, Attleboro. * 1974, assigned pastor, Holy Ghost Parish, Attleboro. * 1985, assigned pastor, St. John the Baptist Parish, New Bedford, Mass. * 1987, assigned pastor, St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Provincetown, Mass. * 1992, assigned pastor, St. Paul Parish, Taunton. * 2005, requested retirement at age 75. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsWilliam Reilly | March 17, 2008 5:53 PM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
I am relieved that the Church is finally living up to its moral obligation to not only report what it believes to be credible allegations of sexual abuse by a priest to the proper civil authorities, but also to advise and request parishioners who may have information (or, perhaps, additional allegations) about an allegedly abusive priest to come forward. I commend Bishop Coleman for his forthright and correct response to this human tragedy.