Priest in Fall River Diocese states Vatican has restored priestly faculties, ordered Bishop to pay legal expenses, after being placed on “Credibly Accused” list

FALL RIVER — The Diocese of Fall River had announced in October of 2024 that they updated its list of “Credibly Accused” clergy posted on the Diocesan website.

In the update, the Diocese added the name of Father Thomas Kocik to the listing of “Credibly Accused” clergy.

Following a review of all older files, the Diocese began an investigation into allegations made against Father Kocik involving actions alleged to have occurred in the 1990s. At the outset of the investigation, Bishop Edgar da Cunha placed Father Kocik on administrative leave and restricted his priestly faculties. The restrictions included prohibition from exercising public ministry including the celebration of public Mass or of other sacraments. He was also not allowed to provide spiritual direction or present himself as a priest in good standing.

According to the Diocese, Bishop da Cunha reviewed all of the facts of the case and considered the recommendations of the Ministerial Review Board, (an independent and consultative body made up primarily of lay members to advise the bishop on alleged misconduct by clergy).  Ultimately, the Bishop determined that the allegations were credible and met the definition of sexual abuse of a child, as defined in the Diocese’s Policy for the Protection of the Faithful.  He informed Father Kocik that he would not be returning to public ministry, and that the restrictions would continue.

Father Kocik denies any culpability in the incident.

The “Credibly Accused” list states that the 59-year-old Kocik has served at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Seekonk, St. Francis Xavier-Hyannis, St. Anne’s Hospital-Fall River, St. Anne-Fall River, St. Joseph-Taunton, Morton Hospital-Taunton, Charlton Memorial Hospital-Fall River, St. Michael-Fall River, Santo Christo-Fall River, and Cape Cod Hospital.

On Sunday, Father Kocik notified Fall River Reporter that the “Vatican has upheld the presumption of innocence to which I am entitled, restored my priestly faculties, and ordered Bishop Da Cunha to compensate my canonical legal expenses. The Diocese added my name to the list six months after the Vatican decided not to subject me to a canonical trial, and only weeks after the Vatican condemned the practice of publishing names of clergy who are “credibly accused” but not found guilty.”

We asked Father Kocik to send us the Vatican report, he stated that “for reasons of confidentiality, I cannot send the entire document.” He did send us two screenshots from the Vatican decree.

Fall River Reporter contacted the Diocese on Monday morning for comment, and we have not yet received a response.