Massachusetts bishop: Priest placed on leave admitted to ‘serious sexual misconduct’

Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River, Massachusetts. / Credit: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2024 / 17:55 pm (CNA).

A priest in Massachusetts who had been placed on leave has admitted to sexual misconduct ahead of a planned student walkout over a lack of information regarding his removal from a school post. 

Students at St. Michael’s School in Fall River, Massachusetts, had organized a protest for Friday over Father Jay Mello’s removal months ago as pastor of the school and two churches.

Fall River Bishop Edgar da Cunha had said in a June letter to parishioners that Mello was removed after the diocese received an allegation of sexual misconduct regarding the priest. The diocese said at the time that there had been “no allegations of inappropriate conduct with minors.”

The Fall River Herald News reported on Thursday that students at St. Michael’s were planning a walkout over the lack of information on the case from the diocese. The protest was reportedly scheduled to take place outside of both the diocesan chancery and da Cunha’s home. 

In a letter published on Thursday, da Cunha noted that he “would not normally provide [a detailed] update until the conclusion of the investigation,” but the bishop said he was prompted to issue the letter due to “a number of false claims and rumors causing confusion” based on “the belief that Father Mello has been unfairly placed on leave.”

The confusion “is now disrupting the school environment,” he wrote.

“I feel it is necessary to inform your parish and school communities of an important development in the investigation in that Father Mello recently admitted to serious sexual misconduct which began while counseling an adult parishioner,” the bishop said. 

The priest had originally denied the allegations, the prelate noted. 

Da Cunha offered no further details of the allegations, though he said the diocesan investigation would continue and would likely conclude early next year. 

“To those who wish to support Father Mello, I encourage you to continue praying for him,” the bishop said. He further asked for prayers for abuse victims “who often feel revictimized when their claims are not believed.”

The Herald News, meanwhile, reported in an update that the walkout organizers would continue the demonstration as planned. 

Mello attended American Seminary in Rome and was ordained in 2007. He has served at parishes in Dartmouth, Falmouth, and Mansfield, Massachusetts.