Press Release Regarding the Appointment of Bishop Edgar M. DA Cunha As Bishop of Fall River, Ma

Road to Recovery
July 4, 2014

http://www.road-to-recovery.org/

[Where does the buck stop in the Archdiocese of Newark? - Commonweal] https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/where-does-buck-stop-archdiocese-newark

In a letter to the editor of the Jersey Journal of Hudson County, New Jersey, approximately one year ago, James G. Goodness, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, attempted to defend the inexcusable inaction of Bishop Edgar da Cunha who, at the time, was the Vicar General (second in command) of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey.

Bishop da Cunha has been accused by a northern New Jersey mother of ignoring her distressed and desperate pleas for help for her two sons who allege they were sexually abused by Fr. Angelito Rosales, a member, with Bishop da Cunha, of the religious order known as the Society of Divine Vocations or Vocationist Fathers and Brothers.

Phone records obtained by the mother indicate that from June 12 to June 17, 2009, she phoned the office of Bishop da Cunha several times seeking to speak with him about two matters, including the sexual abuse of her twin boys by at least one member of the Vocationist Fathers and Brothers.

Phone records indicate that calls were made from an Archdiocese of Newark phone number to the mother during that time and that she informed Bishop da Cunha in June, 2009, that her sons had been sexually abused. One call of seventeen minutes was made by Bishop da Cunha to the mother’s phone on June 16, 2009, and another nine minute call was made by Bishop da Cunha to the mother on June 17, 2009.

Bishop da Cunha did not inform law enforcement officials of the allegations in June, 2009, as required by the Memorandum of Understanding with the New Jersey Attorney General’s office, he did not offer the woman counseling services for her twin boys, and he was aware that at least one of the abusers, Fr. Angelito Rosales, SDV, was allowed to return to the Philippines where, according to reports, he continues to work with boys who are the same age as the alleged victims from New Jersey.

During June, 2009, phone records confirm that at least nine phone calls were made between the mother and Bishop da Cunha or his office. Bishop da Cunha, according to the mother, was informed of the sexual abuse of her twin boys, and Bishop da Cunha did nothing about it. On or about August 25, 2012, the mother emailed Bishop da Cunha with a request for immediate psychological counseling for at least one of her two sons who was suffering emotionally as a result of the sexual abuse he allegedly endured.

Contacts: Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., President, Road to Recovery, 862-368-2800

Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA, 617-523-6250