Fall River Diocese Places 2 Priests on Leave, 1 with Ties to Cape Cod

FALL RIVER – The Diocese of Fall River has placed two priests on administrative leave.

The decision followed an external review of personnel files and relates to alleged misconduct from decades ago.

The priests placed on leave are Father Richard Degagne, pastor of Immaculate Conception in Easton, and Father Daniel Lacroix, co-pastor of St. Joseph-St. Therese, St. Mary, and Our Lady of Fatima parishes in New Bedford.

Lacroix has ties to Cape Cod and served at the Holy Redeemer Church in Chatham from 1988-1991 and St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis from 2008-2014.

The cases have been referred to the Bristol and Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Offices and the priests will remain on leave pending further investigation.

Both priests have denied the alleged misconduct.

The misconduct alleged of Degagne occurred before he was a priest, according to the diocese.

Parishioners of the parishes where the priests serve were informed of the situation in a letter from Bishop Edgar da Cunha that was read during all masses over the weekend.

The diocese announced the external review of priest personnel files earlier this year.

Bishop da Cunha has revamped practices and procedures to ensure the safety of parishioners across the diocese, which includes Cape Cod and the Islands, especially children and young people. The goal is also to foster healing following the clergy sexual abuse crisis.

“Nothing is more important than the welfare of survivors, children and our community at-large,” said Bishop da Cunha, in a release. “We have pledged to handle all matters of abuse in a pastoral and professional way and have implemented many new reforms since 2017. I continue to pray for anyone who has been affected by the scourge of sexual abuse.”

The diocese established a revamped Safe Environment Enterprise to re-structure and strengthen all child protection programs and protocols, and to create more effective policies and processes for handling allegations and the survivors of abuse impacted by them. 

Former law enforcement officials and a social worker have been hired to oversee the program.

Anyone with information or concerns that they wish to raise regarding the conduct of any past or present member of the diocese, is encouraged to contact the Bristol County or Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Offices, or the Diocese of Fall River, Office of Safe Environment at 508-985-6508 or by email [email protected].