Updated 11/25/19:
Youth Apostles
priest found not credibly accused of abuse by Fall River Diocese
FALL RIVER — The
Fall River Diocese has announced today (November 22, 2019) that an allegation
of sexual misconduct with a minor made against Father Michael F. Kuhn, Y.A.,
has been found to be unsubstantiated.
The Diocese
received the accusation in October 2018 and, in accord with its policies,
placed Father Kuhn on administrative leave pending the outcome of an
investigation of the accusation.
The incident of
sexual misconduct was alleged to have occurred in 1975 in Manassas, Virginia,
when Father Kuhn was approximately 18 years old, more than 20 years before he
was a priest.
Father Kuhn was
ordained as a priest of the Fall River Diocese in 1997 for service in the Youth
Apostles Institute and had been ministering under the direction of that
community outside of the Diocese, in Virginia and Maryland, since 2004.
Manassas City
Police were informed of the allegation and declined to prosecute.
The Youth
Apostles Institute engaged the services of an investigator in Virginia to
investigate the allegation. The information gathered during that investigation
was presented to the Fall River Diocese Review Board, and the Review Board
determined that, based on the available evidence, a credible allegation of
sexual misconduct with a minor had not been made against Father Kuhn. Bishop
Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., accepted the Diocesan Review Board’s determination.
Following the
decision, Bishop da Cunha has restored the priestly faculties –or the authority
to minister as a priest- of Father Kuhn. The specifics regarding his return to
ministry will be determined by Father Kuhn and leadership of the Youth Apostles
Institute.
——
Original post
Oct. 23, 2018
The following announcement from the Catholic Diocese of Fall
River, Mass., available at fallriverdiocese.org, was shared with the Diocese of
Arlington on Oct. 22, 2018. Father Michael Kuhn, Y.A., served as chaplain at
Paul VI Catholic High School from 2004-2008, and as assistant chaplain at
Marymount University from 2017 to the present.
Anyone with information regarding this allegation should contact
the Manassas City Police Department’s Investigative Services Division at 703/257-8092.
The Diocese encourages anyone who knows of any misconduct or abuse on the part
of any cleric or employee of the Diocese to notify civil authorities, as well
as to reach out to the diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 703/ 841-2530.
The diocesan child protection policy is online at arlingtondiocese.org/child-protection/.
Fall River priest, Youth Apostle member, placed on leave
Oct. 22, 2018
Fall River — Father Michael F. Kuhn, Y.A., a priest of the Catholic Diocese of
Fall River, Mass., and a member of the Youth Apostles Institute, has been
placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation of
alleged sexual misconduct with a minor in approximately 1975. The incident is
alleged to have occurred in Manassas, when Father Kuhn was roughly 18 years old,
more than 20 years before he was ordained a priest in 1997.
Father Kuhn was ordained as a priest of the Fall River Diocese
for service in the Youth Apostles Institute. He currently ministers in Virginia
and Maryland.
The Fall River Diocese has been informed that Father Kuhn denies
the accusation, and no determination has yet been made regarding its
credibility. The decision to restrict Father Kuhn from ministry should not be
construed as an implication of guilt but rather as a measure intended to
facilitate the investigation.
As a priest in the Fall River Diocese, he served as a parochial
vicar at the former St. Mary Church in Seekonk, 1997-2000; and as chaplain at
Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro, 1997 to 2004. From there, he was assigned
as chaplain, Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, 2004-08; director, Youth
Apostles Community House, Thurmont, Md., 2009-present; Campus Ministry, Old
Dominion University, Norfolk, 2011-16; chaplain, St. John’s Catholic Prep,
Frederick, Md., 2016-present; and assistant chaplain, Marymount University,
Arlington, Va., 2017-present.
Like all priests, Father Kuhn has undergone criminal background
checks during his service.
Anyone who knows of any information that may be related to this
case is asked to notify the Manassas City Police Department’s Investigative
Services Division at 703/257-8092.
As this difficult situation is addressed, prayers are asked for
all who may be affected by these allegations.
