MEDIA RELEASE

Road to RecoveryTUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015
January 21, 2015

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

A Catholic religious order of priests and brothers, known as the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, and the Diocese of Fall River, MA, enabled the sexual abuse of at least two minor boys from Massachusetts by one of its members, Fr. James R. Nickel, SS.CC., in Fairhaven, MA, and West Harwich, MA, respectively

Two men have filed lawsuits in Superior Court, Bristol County, MA, alleging sexual abuse by Fr. James Nickel, SS.CC., and alleging negligent supervision by leaders of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts; Bishop Daniel Cronin, retired bishop of Fall River, MA; and others

What A demonstration and leafleting alerting the media, parishioners, and the general public of the filing of two Superior Court lawsuits in Massachusetts against former Bishop Daniel Cronin of the Diocese of Fall River and leaders/supervisors of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts religious order (copies of the lawsuits will be provided)

When Wednesday, January 21, 2015 from 11:00 am until 12:30 pm

Where On the public sidewalk outside the headquarters of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts religious order, 77 Adams Street, Fairhaven, MA (near St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Parish run by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts)

Who Dr. Robert M. Hoatson, Co-founder and President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families.

Why Two men have come forward to report that they had been sexually abused by Fr. James R. Nickel, a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts religious order, when they were minor boys in Fairhaven, MA, and West Harwich, MA, respectively. The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts religious order administers at least two parishes in Fairhaven, MA (St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s), and were in charge at one time of Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich, MA, on Cape Cod. Fr. James R. Nickel, SS.CC. worked within the geographic boundaries of the Diocese of Fall River with the permission of Bishop Daniel Cronin at the time of the sexual abuse of the children. One plaintiff as a minor was sexually abused by Fr. James R. Nickel from approximately 1972-1974 when he was approximately 13-14 years of age at Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich, MA. Another plaintiff as a minor was sexually abused from approximately 1983-1986 when he was approximately 12-14 years of age at St. Mary’s Parish in Fairhaven, MA. Both boys suffered serious injuries from the sexual abuse. Demonstrators will call on the Diocese of Fall River and the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts to help these men heal and give them the resources they need to recover.

Contacts Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Road to Recovery, Inc. – 862-368-2800 Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – 617-523-6250