Bishop Issues Statement in Response to Massachusetts AG Report on Sexual Abuse in Fall River Diocese
By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 30, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., of the Fall River Diocese, has issued a statement in response to a report by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office concerning historical incidents of sexual abuse. The report, released this morning, has prompted the bishop to express deep sorrow over the failures of the Church to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children, and to acknowledge the ongoing suffering of survivors.
The bishop emphasized that the Diocese is committed to supporting survivors in their healing process, ensuring accountability, and implementing measures to prevent future abuse. He stated that the safety of the community and the establishment of a culture of protection have been and remain the Diocese’s top priorities.
The Fall River Diocese has taken several steps to build a culture of protection, including adopting new policies and practices aimed at safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The bishop noted that during his tenure, he has implemented changes based on best practices for child and adult protection, emphasizing accountability and transparency in diocesan operations.
The investigation by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office began in 2019, and the Diocese has fully cooperated, providing over 80,000 pages of documents. The Attorney General has acknowledged this cooperation throughout the process. When the Attorney General sought court permission to release a Grand Jury report, the Diocese had the opportunity to object but chose not to intervene, allowing the report’s release.
The Diocese is currently reviewing the AGO report and remains dedicated to continuing its efforts to foster a culture of protection. The bishop reiterated the Diocese’s commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that these efforts have been ongoing for the past decade.
The report highlights the need for institutional accountability and the importance of protecting the most vulnerable members of society. As Proverbs 31:8-9 reminds us, we are called to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and to defend the rights of the poor and needy. The Diocese’s response reflects a recognition of this responsibility and a commitment to uphold these values.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
