Former Cape Pastor Indicted on Rape, Assault and Battery Charges

By Jessica Hill
Cape Cod Times
December 14, 2020

https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2020/12/14/grand-jury-returns-four-indictments-against-rev-mark-hession-indicted-barnstable-rape-assault-and-ba/6544115002/

A grand jury returned indictments against a former Cape pastor on Friday, with multiple counts of rape and assault and battery.

The Rev. Mark Hession was indicted out of Barnstable Superior Court on two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and battery on a child less than 14 and one count of intimidation of a witness, a superior court official confirmed Monday.

Hession was previously pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville from 2000 to 2014 and also served at St. Joan of Arc Church in Orleans. In 2009, he delivered the homily at the funeral for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

In March 2019, the Diocese of Fall River placed Hession on leave from “active priestly ministry” after parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Seekonk complained that he had sent inappropriate communications.

The diocese said then in a statement that Hession was placed on leave “because of conduct inconsistent with standards of ministerial behavior and in direct violation of the Code of Conduct for priests."

In a statement Monday, the diocese said it has been cooperating with the Barnstable County District Attorney's Office investigation from the beginning and will continue to do so.

"The Diocese of Fall River is committed to ensuring the safety of all children and adults," the statement says.

Former Cape pastor placed on leave

Hession will be summoned for arraignment in Barnstable Superior Court. The court had not processed the indictment documents as of Monday due to limited in-court staffing due to COVID-19.

Contact Jessica Hill at jhill@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @jess_hillyeah.