Statement on Diocese of Fall River Priest

                 Statement on Removal of Fall River Priest 

On January 16, 2020, the Diocese of Fall River notified the Diocese of Providence that it was revoking the faculties of Father Edward Byington, a retired priest of the Diocese of Fall River. The Diocese of Fall River, in which Father Byington has been and is currently incardinated, suspended his ministry amid an investigation into an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor alleged to have occurred decades ago.  Father Byington has previously assisted at Masses in parishes in the Diocese of Providence, including: St. Augustine, Providence where he was in residence until 2015; St. Joan of Arc, Cumberland and St. Joseph, West Warwick where he also taught-part-time at the parish school. He was never a priest of the Diocese of Providence.
 
Upon learning the information from the Diocese of Fall River, the Diocese of Providence immediately removed him from any further participation or duties within the Diocese of Providence.  Father Byington is no longer serving in any capacity. At this time, there are no known allegations against him in the Diocese of Providence.
     
The Diocese of Providence takes very seriously all allegations of abuse and works closely with law enforcement agencies in accordance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and diocesan policy when an allegation of abuse is reported. Diocesan protection policies and the full content of the Charter are available on the diocesan website, https://dioceseofprovidence.org/office-of-compliance.
 
The Diocese urges anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse, or with credible knowledge of such abuse, by any member of the church to report the information to the Rhode Island State Police Major Crimes Unit 401-444-1000 or the diocesan Office of Compliance at 401-941-0760.