Father Jay Mello “will not be returning” as pastor to St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s parishes in Fall River and is barred from ministry, the Diocese of Fall River said in a statement.
The decision came after an investigation by the diocese’s Ministerial Review Board, which made recommendations to Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha.
After his own review, da Cunha determined “some, though not all,” of the accusations against Mello were credible, including those that he “abused his position of power as a priest and engaged in sexual misconduct with two parishioners he was counseling.”
Neither of the parishioners were minors, the diocese said.
“This investigation has been difficult for many in our Diocesan community,” said da Cunha. “Especially for those who have been harmed by clergy abuse and misconduct. My prayer is that the conclusion of the investigation can bring some closure and healing to the St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s Parishes.”
Besides serving as pastor of the two Fall River parishes and overseeing St. Michael’s School, Mello, 45, was active in the community, serving as a chaplain for the Fall River Police Department and on the committee for the Greater Fall River Vocational School District. He was a graduate of Diman Vocational High School, working in culinary arts.
In June 2024, Mello was placed on administrative leave after the diocese received “concerning information alleging sexual misconduct by the priest,” and that an initial inquiry showed “sufficient evidence” for further investigation. He was also removed as police chaplain at the time and stepped down from the school committee.
Last October, students of the K-8 school threatened to walk out in defense of Mello, saying he had unfairly been placed on leave. The bishop then sent members of the two parishes and the St. Michael’s School community a letter that said that Mello had admitted “to serious sexual misconduct” while “counseling an adult parishioner.”
“While I would not normally provide this detailed of an update until the conclusion of the investigation, I am prompted to do so because there have been a number of false claims and rumors causing confusion based on the belief that Fr. Mello has been unfairly placed on leave,” da Cunha’s letter reads. “This confusion is now disrupting the school environment.”
Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston lawyer who represents one of Mello’s victims, told The Sun Chronicle his client was sexually abused by Mello around 2011 when the victim was about 28 years old. He reported the abuse to then-Bishop George Coleman the following year, Garabedian said.
His client did not consent to having sex with Mello, said Garabedian, who has represented hundreds of clients of Catholic clergy sexual abuse victims and who was portrayed by actor Stanley Tucci in the Oscar-winning film “Spotlight.”
“Clergy sexual abuse of either minors or adults is criminal and reprehensible,” Garabedian said in a statement to The Sun Chronicle. “The evidence in this matter further indicates that the Catholic Church is incapable of supervising itself with regard to the protection of children or adults.”
“Prevention is paramount with regard to the sexual abuse of minors or adults,” he continued. “Any clergy sexual abuse victim or sexual abuse victim should report sexual abuse to the police.”