NORTH ATTLEBORO - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River announced at Masses last weekend that the "Reverend Rodney Thibeault was placed on administrative leave by the bishop for an investigation into alleged misconduct that is inconsistent with standards of ministerial behavior and in direct violation of the Code of Conduct for priests in the diocese."
The announcement was clear to communicate that "the alleged misconduct does not include a minor."
The statement read, “As a priest on leave, he is not permitted to exercise public ministry nor present himself as a priest in public settings.”
In his communication, Bishop Edgar da Cunha "acknowledged how 'distressing' this turn of events is for parishioners of the Transfiguration of the Lord Parish and assured them of his prayers during this difficult time."
The bishop also announced that the Reverend Michael Ciryak will serve as temporary administrator of the parish.
Father Thibeault was first assigned to North Attleboro in 2019 as pastor of the town’s three former parishes.
Those three parishes were merged into one in 2020.
