A retired priest who worked for more than 50 years in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River has been removed from ministry following an allegation of sexual abuse. No criminal charges have been filed against the Rev. Bento Fraga, and the priest has denied the allegation.
Diocesan spokesman John Kearns says the complaint involved a minor and occurred nearly 30 years at a private residence in Taunton.
Kearns says the allegation first surfaced in January and a probe by a review board found it to be credible.
Fraga retired in 2005 after serving as a priest at seven parishes in southeastern Massachusetts.
The diocese has sent notices to all of the parishes and by policy has referred the allegations to local prosecutors.
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