Category:New Jersey Dioceses

From Eurêka

Contents 1 New Jersey Dioceses General 2 Archdiocese of Newark 3 Diocese of Camden 4 Diocese of Metuchen 5 Diocese of Paterson 6 Diocese of Trenton

New Jersey Dioceses General

Three priest accusation Vicky Cubberly (1951-), a South Jersey woman said she was victimized by three priests.

Archdiocese of Newark

Archdiocese of Newark abuse Having checked the files of priests known to have been accused of child sex abuse to determine “if the cases were properly handled,” the archdiocese would not say how many had been involved in child sex abuse, March 2002. The archdiocese relieved two priests following allegations of abuse or inappropriate conduct, April 2002. 11 priests had been accused of sexual abuse up to January 2003 (NYT survey).

1. Union County abuse Union County Prosecutor made a yearlong investigation public which involved 16 priests that 21 people accused of sexual abuse and misconduct 1955-1982 but concluded, no charges would be filed because either the statute of limitations expired or the alleged victims were reluctant to testify.

John Myers Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark, NJ, formerly Bishop of Peoria (he left 2001), is a member of Opus Dei’s Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, was appointed to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops abuse committee in 2002.

Archdiocese of Newark settlement Agreed to pay $1.1 million to nine people who sued the diocese over alleged sexual abuse by priests. The settlement carries no admission of wrongdoing on the part of the archdiocese or any priest. “There are no winners here,” said the Phillipsburg lawyer representing seven men and two women with allegations against nine priests. “These men and women were sexually abused as children, and nothing will ever give them back the innocence they lost as children.” announced 9 October 2004.

(alphabetical listing)

[11 offenders identified, 16 listed]

Cheplic affair Monsignor Peter Cheplic, who served at four Hudson County parishes, was assigned to St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Weehawken in 2004, even after archdiocese officials had what was deemed “credible information” concerning accusations of sexual abuse of young boys by the priest during his ministry. Cheplic, who left St. Lawrence to become a parochial vicar at St. Henry's Church in Bayonne, was removed from his ministry in August 2005, after new allegations about his behavior were revealed by two different men who said they were abused by Cheplic in the 1980s and early 1990s. Cheplic retired “with no faculties” (he can never again work as a priest), March 2006. Cheplic “still maintains his innocence” and “felt that by removing himself from the ministry, he could encourage everyone to begin to heal from this ordeal.”

1. Kansky allegation Martin Kansky, a former altar boy who came forward in 2002 with accusations that Cheplic molested him in 1978, settled for $25,000 in April 2006.
2. Capozzi allegation Joe Capozzi accused Peter Cheplic of molesting him in the 1980s after Capozzi's family met the priest while Cheplic worked at St. Matthew Parish in Ridgefield, the actual abuse occurred later when he was a teenager and Cheplic worked at St. Joseph of the Palisades in West New York. Settled for $55,000 in April 2006.
3. Capone allegation Raymond Capone accused Peter Cheplic of molesting him in an East Orange parish in 1985, settled for $25,000 in April 2006.

Chabak affair Monsignor Robert Chabak (1945-) was relieved of his duties at St. Valentine's Roman Catholic Church and left the rectory, 15 November 2004.

DeFrias case Rev. Hadmels DeFrias is accused of fondling two brothers, both under the age of 14, when they worked in a rectory in 2001 and 2002. Arrested and awaiting trial 2003.

Dowd affair Rev. William J. Dowd, at St. Luke's Church in Ho-Ho-Kus and once was chaplain to the New York Giants took voluntarily leave in April 2002, faced canonical trial and removal from public ministry or the priesthood if found guilty of abuse, January 2005.

Eilert abuse Rev. Edward Eilert accused of abuse of teen girl, removed 2002.

Fisher affair Rev.Walter Fisher (also known as Wladyslaw Gorak) (1956-), ordained in Poland in 1982, served as a parochial vicar, or assistant pastor, at the Church of the Resurrection in South Lakeland.

1. Jane Doe accusation On 12 October 2004, Fisher forced his way into a woman’s home by breaking the chain lock on her door and pulled the telephone from the jack. He started removing his clothes, held her tightly, ripped her skirt and blouse off, and forced her to the floor, but she fought back by “kicking, punching, and biting” him. After managing to free herself, she grabbed her skirt, ran outside and hid until Fisher left. Fisher was found mentally unfit to stand trial, 2006.
2. Fisher guilty Pleaded guilty to aggravated stalking, sexually assaulting a woman who was a member of the Church of the Resurrection in Lakeland where he worked, August 2007.

Fugee case Rev. Michael C. Fugee (1960-), ordained 1994, associate pastor at St. Elizabeth Church in Wyckoff, Bergen County, was arrested for alleged abuse 2001. He was found guilty of aggravated sexual contact for groping a teenage boy during wrestling horseplay several times 1999-2000, sentenced to community service, 11 April 2003.

Galdon case Rev. Richard Galdon was convicted of sexual abuse in 1987, received 25 years sentence.

Giblin affair Rev. William Giblin was arrested for alleged abuse of minors, 2002. Removed.

Heyndricks case Rev. Eugene Heyndricks (1963-), who worked in parishes in Ridgewood, Park Ridge, Fairview, and at St. John Nepomucene in Guttenberg, NJ., was arrested while visiting Montreal, Canada, July 2002 and pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a 16-year-old male prostitute, April 2003. Quebec Judge Claude Gillette in Montreal sentenced him to two years' probation and barred him from having contact with minors during the probationary period unless accompanied by another adult, 1 May 2003.

1. Heyndricks arrest Police arrested Heyndricks and the Rev. William Giblin, former headmaster at the Seton Hall Preparatory School, in a gay-friendly enclave in Montreal in what authorities called the dismantling of a male prostitution ring that frequently drew patrons from the US, July 2002.
2. Giblin affair Charges against Rev. Heyndricks's companion on the trip, William Giblin (1923-) a retired New Jersey priest, former headmaster at Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, were dropped because of a lack of evidence.

Mieliwocki affair Rev. Richard Mieliwocki (1946-) was removed from duty in February 1994 after the archdiocese found credence in two men's claims that Mieliwocki abused them beginning in 1988 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in South Orange.

1. Mieliwocki social worker Mieliwocki left the Catholic church and became a social worker, continuing to deal with young men. He avoided having his license suspended in 1999 for inappropriate behavior by agreeing to weekly monitoring for three years. At Daytop Village drug-treatment center in Mendham, Mieliwocki victimized four of the center's male teenagers residents during one-on-one counseling sessions 8 March-6 December 2004 and he was charged with sexual misconduct, 9 August 2005. He was sentenced to five years probation and 300 hours of community service, 21 September 2007.

Note The case literally fell apart, giving the appearance that Mieliwocki was only getting a slap on the wrist, but it disintegrated after one of the boys died of a drug overdose and the other partially recanted.

Morel affair Rev. Robert Morel charged with criminal sexual contact, 1995.

Rice affair Rev. Joseph Rice accused of abuse of girl, removed 2002.

Schulte affair Rev. John Schulte III, youth minister, was arrested alleged abuse of boys, 2002.

Sudol affair Rev. Gerard J. Sudol, ordained in 1980, worked at Holy Family in Nutley from 1980 to 1986, St. Francis in Ridgefield Park from 1986 to 1994, and as a hospital chaplain at St. Francis Community Health Center in Jersey City from 1995 to 2002.

Zasacki affair Rev. Robert Zasacki accused of abuse, removed 2002.

Diocese of Camden

Diocese of Camden 19 priests had been accused of sexual abuse up to January 2003. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio supplied prosecutors the names of 19 priests, 12 of whom had already been named in lawsuits against the diocese. The remainder were no longer active in the ministry.

1. Diocese of Camden lawsuit In a civil lawsuit 19 male and female plaintiffs allege the diocese concealed their molestation, and should be held responsible and pay damages, with ten of the 15 accused priests still living, April 2002. The diocese settled the suit for $880,000, 13 March 2003.

Adamo statement Monsignor Salvatore Adamo (1920-2001), a retired priest in the Diocese of Camden wrote a sworn statement, “As the years of my earthly journey are ebbing, I am compelled to speak the truth as to the germination of tragic incidents of pedophilia and sexual abuse that is known to have become incessantly rampant in the diocese.”

1. Queen of the Fairies Nickname given to Bishop George Guilfoyle who hired “priests having a homosexual propensity.”
   1. Guilfoyle's pimp Expression used for alleged predator-priest.

(alphabetical listing)

[19 offenders identified, 27 listed]

Anon case 1 Plaintiff alleges that a priest held a gun against his forehead and threatened to “blow off” his head if he disclosed the abuse.

Anon case 2 South New Jersey priest repeatedly took parish children out of state, allegedly taking 10 New Jersey children to the home of his friend, a priest in Rhode Island, William O'Connell, who was later convicted of multiple counts of sexually abusing children, 1970s-80s.

Barber affair Rev. Joseph P. Barber (deceased) charged with rape of girl aged 6, 1994.

Bernard affair Rev. John P. Bernard accused of abuse.

Connelly affair Rev. Norman T. Connelly accused of abuse. Civil suit beyond statute of limitations.

Connor case Rev. John P. Connor was charged with molesting a freshman from the preparatory school where he served as a teacher and coach, taking the boy on a camping trip, giving him beer and fondling him, 1984. Diocese lawyers negotiated a deal in which he admitted guilt and agreed to avoid trouble for one year in exchange for a clean criminal record. After treatment in 1985, he moved to the Diocese of Pittsburgh and then to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Some jobs gave him unrestricted access to children. Connor returned to the diocese of Camden in 1993. Settled 1994. Until early 2002, Bishop DiMarzio let Connor, work as a hospital chaplain and live in two parish rectories. When US bishops began facing pressure to deal with clergy abuse, Bishop DiMarzio removed Connor.

D'Amico affair Rev. Michael H. D'Amico (1940-) was permanently removed from the ministry following a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor while the priest was assigned to Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Deptford Township, a Gloucester County parish 1964-65, 7 October 2005.

Davis affair Rev. Davis accused of abuse, removed.

Flemming affair Rev. Francis J. Flemming accused of abuse.

Hardin affair Rev. Roy Hardin (deceased) accused of abuse. statute of limitations stopped legal action. Removed.

Hayes abuse Rev. Gary R. Hayes was abused, along with other boys, by two priests, Joseph H. McGarvey and William C. O’Connell when he was 15 for two years. On entering a seminary in upstate New York he was so troubled he failed to make the priesthood. Having told the seminary of his abuse, he was told, “Let’s move on.” Later, he told the Diocese of Camden of his abuse but no action was taken against the abusers except to promote McGarvey and move him to a new parish. Not long afterward O’Connell left the priesthood and was convicted of sexually abusing three boys in Bristol, RI. Gary Hayes went to Kentucky and was ordained 1990. Rev, Hayes with two other men abused by the two priests sued the diocese of Camden which was settled out of court. McGarvey then left the priesthood. Hayes became the head of Linkup.

Hopkins case Rev. James Francis Hopkins (1943-) served in eight South Jersey parishes between 1973 and 1995. Hopkins left the priesthood in 1995 after another youth went public with allegations. Diocese of Camden settled a civil lawsuit for $600,000 in 1999 in which Hopkins' victim who was 10 years old when the assaults took place. Hopkins worked for Walgreens 1996-2003. Hopkins was arrested at his Cedar Pointe Villages condominium in, Palm City, Florida 14 April 2003 and indicted on charges of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, and endangering the welfare of a child, one victim was 8 and the other 13.

1. Norton accusation Jonathan Norton, said that from age 8 to 10, he was molested while an altar boy at St. Peter's parish in Merchantville. He said Hopkins, who had baptized some of his siblings, fondled and groped him, eventually forcing him to perform oral sex.

Hudson affair Rev. Frank Hudson was hired by St. Augustine Prep, a private all-boys Catholic school in Richland, N.J., to teach senior religion despite warnings from the Diocese of Camden that he had been accused of abusing a student at St. Mary's Parish in Gloucester City, in 1975 and had been suspended from the ministry. Hudson was never charged since statutes of limitations had expired

Kelly affair Rev. John P. Kelly (deceased) accused of abuse.

McElroy case Rev. John J. McElroy convicted of abuse of 12-year-old boy 1989, 5-year sentence, settled for $700,000.

McGarvey affair Rev. Joseph McGarvey whose abused victim became a priest, lawsuit filed 1994.

Manuppella affair Rev. Anthony J. Manuppella accused of abuse, 1999.

Millard affair Rev. Daniel F. M. Millard (d. 1973) was accused by his niece, Patricia A. Cahill, that he had sexually abused her when she was between the ages of 5 and 13. She said the abuse occurred during the 1950s while she was growing up in New Jersey. Rev. Kenneth E. Lasch of New Jersey, a church canon lawyer said “I am confident in the truthfulness of Patricia Cahill’s testimony.” She received $6,000 for counseling from the Diocese of Camden, N.J., and a personal apology from Bishop Joseph Galante of Camden, after reporting the alleged abuse.

1. Cahill evidence Patricia Anne Cahill recalls how Millard pursued her would take off all his clothes, except for his white collar. If she tried to flee, he locked her naked inside a cold, dark closet. She was only 5 or 6.

Morel affair Rev. Robert Morel was charged with criminal sexual contact.

Nwoga affair Rev. Laserian Nwoga alleged, fondling 15 year-old girl in rectory.

Osinski case Rev. Peter accused of abuse, convicted.

Rigney affair I Rev. Dennis A. Rigney (brother of Philip Rigney) accused of abuse.

Rigney affair II Msgr. Philip Rigney (brother of Dennis Rigney) accused by two Delaware brothers who were 12 and 9 years old, when Rigney began groping them at night, reaching into their pajamas during overnight stays at his rectory or during family vacations. The fondling escalated into masturbation, oral sex and attempted sodomy, c. 1980. Philip Rigney assaulted their father and uncle before them. He denied the abuse when first confronted by Camden Bishop George H. Guilfoyle in 1984. The priest said he was not disciplined, not removed from duties, and not sent for counseling.” Settled 2003.

Seidenberg affair Rev. Augustine Seidenberg accused of abuse, removed.

Shannon affair Rev. Joseph Shannon accused of abuse settled. $50,000. Removed, 1994.

Titmas affair Rev. William Titmas accused of abuse.

Weaver case Rev. Patrick Weaver accused of molesting children at a parish in 1966, was “promoted” and transferred to another church. However, 20 years later, accused anew, he found himself convicted in Superior Court in Camden of sexual assaults on children.

Diocese of Metuchen

Diocese of Metuchen Serves 522,719 Catholics in four central New Jersey counties, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren, with 108 parishes, 46 Catholic schools and an income of $12 million a year. Diocese was established in 1981.

Diocese of Metuchen abuse Five priests had been accused of sexual abuse up to January 2003. Two priests took leave of absence after the diocese learned of abuse allegations, one dating back 20 years and the other to 1950s-60s. Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office announced no criminal charges were filed against any of the 29 priests, monks and church employees in the Diocese of Metuchen who were accused of sexually abusing children, 15 May 2003. National Audit found accusations from 29 people against 18 priests and one deacon. The diocese determined accusations against 10 of the clergy were credible, February 2004. 19 priests have been involved in a sexual-abuse allegation since the diocese was established in 1981 (July 2005).

Note 10 monks working for the diocese were omitted from the National Audit total.

Diocese of Metuchen settlement Diocese agreed to pay $795,000 in an out-of-court settlement to 10 people who said that five diocesan priests had sexually abused them, approved by Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski, January 2003.

Middlesex County investigation Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office has ended its year-long investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of minors by 29 priests, monks and church employees in the Diocese of Metuchen and announced that no criminal charges will be filed in any of the cases, 19 May 2003. Church and law enforcement officials said several factors affected the decision not to bring any cases before a grand jury, including that some alleged suspects have died and victims and witnesses would not file criminal charges. Other reasons noted were incidents that did not support criminal charges or were outside the statute of limitations or outside the jurisdiction of Middlesex County. Assistant Prosecutor Julie McClure, head of the county sex crimes unit, declined to discuss specifics of any of the cases, some of which date back decades, but said some evidence was very persuasive.

Delbarton School Private school in Morris Township run and operated by Benedictine monks of St. Mary's Abbey in Morristown, for grades 7-12.

• See also Delbarton School affair

1. Flavin affair Benedictine monk Robert Flavin who taught at Delbarton, was accused of assaulting an 18-year-old student on campus in 1981. Diocese of Paterson initiated efforts to laicize Flavin, asking him to seek his own formal dismissal from the clergy, August 2003.
2. Lott affair Rev. Richard E. Lott, a monk in the Order of St. Benedict, he order who run the Delbarton School for boys in grades 7-12. Richard H. Stenson's lawsuit said he enrolled at the school in 1975 and was molested and given marijuana and alcohol by Lott in 1977.

(alphabetical listing)

[29 offenders acknowledged, 12 listed]

Banko case I Rev. John M. Banko was convicted of performing oral sex on an 11-year-old altar boy at St. Edward the Confessor Roman Catholic Church in Milford on two occasions after Sunday Masses in 1993, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, December 2002. Three other men from other parishes where Banko had served testified of their abuse by the priest during his trial. State officials categorized him as a compulsive and repetitive sex offender.

1. Banko case II Hunterdon County grand jury indicted John Banko in a case that involved the sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, September 2006.

Butler affair Diocese settled claims on Rev. John R. Butler, former pastor at St. John Vianney Church in Colonia, who was accused of misconduct with a minor 40 years earlier on Long Island. Settled.

Cashman affair Msgr. Michael Cashman of Woodbridge, a former spiritual adviser to Gov. James E. McGreevey, was among those included in the Diocese of Methuchen settlement, accused of abuse, settled 2003.

Casey affair Rev. John Casey was removed as pastor of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in North Plainfield, while it looks into the allegations involving a charge made by a minor from 1987, when Casey was parochial vicar at St. Peter the Apostle parish in New Brunswick announced July 2005. Casey denied the allegation. Bishop Bootkoski said the diocese conducted its own investigation after law enforcement authorities determined that the statute of limitations for the alleged crime had expired. “It was the conclusion of the professional investigator and the Diocesan Review Board, and it is my own conclusion, that the charges are not without merit.”

DeFrias affair Rev. Hadmels DeFrias arrested 2003, accused of abuse.

Dolak affair Diocese settled claims of abuse on Rev. Mark Dolak, former pastor of St. Matthias Church in Somerset.

Farrell affair Rev. George Farrell (1961-), a priest at Saint Matthew the Apostle in Edison, entered a supervised living facility, when the church began to investigate him for “inappropriate communications” with a minor, May 2003.

Littleton affair Rev. Gregory Littleton (1962-) of Our Lady of Assumption church in the Diocese of Charlotte, NC, which had been long aware of the accusations of sexual abuse against him, was notified by the Diocese of Metuchen, NJ, that he had worked in parishes in Sayreville, Metuchen and the Peapack/Far Hills area before moving to North Carolina in 1997, after officials found the accusations of sexual abuse in Metuchen, NJ, in the 1990s “credible.” Littleton resigned 21 February 2004.

Santillo case Diocese settled claims on Rev. Michael Santillo (d. 2000), a former Perth Amboy priest who was convicted of molestation and died in state prison in 2000.

Zielinski case Rev. Tomasz Adam Zielinski (1977-), a Polish citizen staying in the US on a religious visa, serving as an associate pastor at the Somerset County parish since April 2008, was removed from his position at Christ the King Church in Manville as a result of the federal charges that he groped a 16-year-old girl and attempted to unzip her pants on an airplane 5 July 2008, 11 July 2008.

Diocese of Paterson

• See also Diocese of Paterson embezzlement

Diocese of Paterson Diocese serves Morris, Sussex and Passaic counties in northern New Jersey.

Diocese of Paterson abuse 11 priests had been accused of sexual abuse up to January 2003 (NYT survey). Bishop Frank J. Rodimer handed over names of priests accused of abusing children to prosecutors of cases from 1960, 15 April 2002. National Audit recorded 71 abuse allegations against 39 priests who served in the diocese from 1950-2002. Of those claims, 56 cases, involving 30 priests and one deacon, were deemed credible after review by church boards and county prosecutors, 19 February 2004.

1. Father Groeschel advice Diocese which had sent business to Father Groeschel, blamed three “unfortunate” reassignments on his advice, two of those priests were subsequently accused of misconduct in their new jobs.
2. Rodimer affair Bishop Rodimer, who led the diocese from 1977 to June 2004, apologized in April 2002 for his “own inadequacy” in failing to prevent abuse by at least four of his priests and a clergy colleague with whom he shared a Long Island beach house. Bishop Rodimer said he had not known that the Rev. Peter Osinski, a friend from the Diocese of Camden, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1998, having used the Long Beach Island home that Bishop Rodimer rented Osinski. The bishop was not accused in a lawsuit of sexual contact with a child, but failing to recognize the distress of the boy. The terms of the settlement were kept secret, 1999.

Diocese of Paterson settlements Diocese paid out as much as $2.5 million to settle sexual molestations in the decades up to 2000. Diocese announced that it had spent $2.8 million since 1950 on legal fees, settlements and counseling related to “credible'” misconduct claims.

Diocese of Paterson lawsuit Sexual abuse lawsuit brought by 25 men and six of their wives, who sought unspecified financial damages and nonmonetary relief from the Diocese of Paterson, its former bishop and several churches and schools, cleared a legal hurdle when a New Jersey judge rejected a diocesan motion to dismiss the suit, 3 November 2004.

(alphabetical listing)

[39 offenders identified, 26 listed]

Alonso case Rev. José Alonso sentenced to 5 years in prison for molesting two altar boys, 1987.

Anon deacon affair Robbie Acevedo, son of Puerto Ricans who were devout Catholics, strict with their four children, and unquestioning of authority, was separated from the other children by a deacon, who took him down to the basement, made him disrobe, and raped him when he was 12, during a weekend retreat for children at a Paterson, NJ, church, triggering a life of self-destructive behavior and culminating in a broken marriage and a multitude of health problems.

Bradley affair Rev. Charles Bradley was removed as a priest after being accused of sexual abuse, 1995.

Briganti affair Rev. Philip Briganti, a longtime military chaplain, was resigned as pastor of St. Joseph's Church less than a year after he took over a parish that has been at the center of the Catholic priest sex abuse scandal in New Jersey. Church officials did not say why Briganti decided to step down but said it was the priest's decision and was not forced on him. Parishioners were told he was ill, but church officials said that something came up in Briganti's personal life that made it difficult for him to continue as pastor. They would not be more specific. “Father Briganti has encountered a distressful situation in his personal life which could render ineffective his mission as pastor,” said a spokeswoman for Bishop Arthur Serratelli of the Diocese of Paterson. That “distressful situation” involved a police investigation. February 2005.

Browne affair Rev. Patrick D. Browne sued for al.leged misconduct with woman.

Continuho affair Rev. Absalom Continuho of St. Judes Church in Mount Olive was placed on administrative leave while the diocese investigated allegation of abuse. Removed 2002.

Cramer case Rev. William Cramer allegations first came to light many years earlier, Bishop Rodimer transferred the priest to two other parishes. After he was indicted in 1985, pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of a child, Cramer resigned from parish work, but continued to work as a chaplain with the bishop's support at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center. Convicted of abuse of 2 boys sentenced to 5 years probation.

Denneh affair Rev. Francis X. Denneh See, Molloy affair.

Dericks affair Monsignor John Henry Dericks, pastor of Assumption parish in Morristown who was accused of fondling a teenage girl decades ago at his home in Andover which he denied, but admitted having an affair with the girl's mother. The priest also admitted to having sexual relations with the mother at his home while the girl was in the house. Placed on administrative leave 2003.

Flavin affair Br. Malachy Flavin (Robert), Benedictine, accused of abuse.

Hanley affair Rev. James T. Hanley (1936-) was a priest at five churches in New Jersey, including St. Joseph in Mendham, west of Morristown in northern New Jersey, or Our Lady of Good Counsel in Pompton Plains, from 1962 through 1986. At least one parishioner from four of those churches has accused him of abuse. In total, he was accused by 21 men of abusing them as children between 1968 and 1982. The affair was made public by a maverick priest in 1995. Hanley was never charged with any crimes. Laicized by the Pope 7 March 2003. The Diocese of Paterson settled with 21 of Hanley's accusers for nearly $5 million, 2005.

1. Kelly accusation James Thomas Kelly, 9-year-old altar boy, was serially molested starting with x-rated movies, then groping, vibrators, sodomy, oral sex and forced masturbation for seven years. The victim reported the offenses to the diocese which settled out of court for $241,000 with a confidentiality agreement, 1987.
   1. Kelly suicide 37-year-old James Thomas Kelly still burned emotionally after a childhood of sexual abuse at the hands Rev. James T. Hanley, volunteered to tell his story on the Survivors Network (SNAP), and made his last statement when he stepped in front of an NJ Transit train just west of the Morristown station, early Sunday morning 12 October 2003.
2. Rodimer cover-up Hanley said at least five other priests probably knew of the sexual assaults as early as 1975 but that no action was taken by the diocese until the family of one of the victims complained in 1984 to Bishop Frank Rodimer. “In approximately 1984, September, I received a call from the [diocese] office to come down,” testified Hanley. “And the bishop told me that a young man had come forward to [other priests] that I had abused him while I was at St. Joseph's. And the bishop said his name was Mark Serrano. He said, 'Is this true?' and I said, 'Yes, bishop, it is.' ” Rodimer replied, “Well, Jim, I want you to know that you're not the only one.” In 1988 Bishop Frank Rodimer sent Hanley to work as a chaplain at Albany Medical Center, New York. Albany has told two stories of their knowledge of Handly. Either (1) Before the transfer to Albany, “Groeschel told us that the basis of problem was alcoholism,” or (2) Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany was informed about the allegations against Hanley before Hanley arrived at Albany, although “Bishop Hubbard cannot remember if there was a settlement. He did know there was an allegation against Hanley.” Hanley suffered a physical collapse while working as a hospital chaplain and was recalled to New Jersey.
3. Hanley assault James T. Hanley charged with trying to assault three people with an aluminum bat in a Secaucus hotel, March 2006.

McBride affair Rev. Peter McBride arrested for alleged abuse. Also civil suits.

McCarthy affair Rev. William McCarthy, the retired pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover was placed on administrative leave while the diocese investigated abuse of girls, ages 6 and 8. Removed.

Molloy affair Steve M. Rabi (1948-) of Albuquerque, director of New Mexico SNAP, (he has been a New Mexico resident for many years, retiring from the Bernalillo Sheriff's Department after a career in law enforcement) claimed in a lawsuit filed in 2004 that the Rev. Joseph W. Molloy and the Rev. Francis X. Dennehy, both deceased, abused him over the course of three years during the late 1950s and early 1960s at St. Nicholas Church in Passaic. Rabi received $50,000 and four years of counseling from the Diocese of Paterson as settlement of the allegations 11 July 2005.

Naughton case Rev. William N. Naughton (1944-), previously a prison chaplain, has a doctorate in theological studies, an MBA in church management and a master's degree in divinity and theology, became the pastor of the Resurrection Church of Randolph in 1990 and left in 2001 after church officials discovered that money was missing. He pleaded guilty to stealing $360,000 from his parish in Randolph, NJ, to pay a man who was said to be blackmailing him by threatening to reveal a sexual relationship the two had in the early 1980s, 27 October 2005.

• See also Naughton embezzlement

Nugent affair Rev. Frank Nugent, Salesian, Accused of abuse, settled 1998 for $250K. Other cases pending. Paterson, NJ

O'Sinski case Rev. Peter O'Sinski convicted, 7-10 year sentence.

Perretta affair Rev. Andrew Perretta at St. Mary's Church in Paterson was accused of inappropriate conduct around 1980, first investigated by a diocese “response team” in the 1990s. Bishop Serratelli decided he wanted the accusation against Perretta investigated further and placed Perretta on leave during the investigation October 2004.

Pisarcik case Rev. John G. Pisarcik convicted for abuse of 2 boys in 1992, sentenced to 5 years.

Rainforth affair Rev. Thomas G. Rainforth was accused of abusing a Morris County youth more than 25 years earlier, that took place at a home Rainforth either rented or owned while assigned to Mendham, denied the allegations, but voluntarily stepped down from his post at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Clifton, July 2002. Sued 2004.

Serrano settlement Mark Serrano, publicly broke his silence, revealing he had settled an abuse claim for $350,000. Serrano became a leader with SNAP, the Survivors Network of Those Abused By Priests.

Smith affair Rev. James A.D. Smith was a priest at St. Therese Church in Succasunna in 2002 when he was named in a lawsuit alleging the sexual abuse in the 1960s. The diocese ultimately settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. Bishop Frank Rodimer barred Smith from celebrating mass or presenting himself as a priest 2003. He was tried by a special church tribunal authorized by the Vatican, 2004.

Sodano affair Rev. Ralph Sodano of Our Lady of the Mountain Church, a former Clifton priest, accused of sexual abuse and placed on administrative leave while the diocese investigated, July 2002. Placed on administrative leave 2003.

Stepien affair Rev. Allen F. Stepien, a former Clifton priest, accused of sexual abuse and placed on administrative leave while the diocese investigated, July 2002. Removed 2003.

Tully affair Monsignor Ronald Tully was removed from Sacred Heart parish in Dover, NJ, in June 2004 for what church officials said at the time was a legal matter that had resurfaced. That legal matter was a criminal charge of sex abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of children filed in Riverhead, NY, in 1979. Two men said they were abused by Tully, when they were teenagers attending a Passaic school where Tully worked, filed papers in a Long Island court 2 July 2004 that provide details of their allegations. Tully took them to his summer home on Long Island, got them drunk, fondled one boy, and pulled down the pants of the other boy and molested him. The boys, 14 and 15 at the time, then ran to a nearby house and police were called. They said in court papers that one church official threatened their families to keep them quiet and that Bishop Frank Rodimer told families of the two victims at the time that the priest would never again be allowed to work with children. But Rodimer allowed Tully to continue working at a Dover parish for 20 years before removing him June 2004.

Verettoni affair Rev. Julian Verettoni accused of abuse.

Diocese of Trenton

Diocese of Trenton abuse 13 priests had been accused of sexual abuse up to January 2003. New Jersey diocese screened 50 years of records for sex abuse allegations, removed one priest and provided authorities the names of 13, 2002.

(alphabetical listing)

[13 offenders identified, 6 listed]

Bruno affair Rev. Francis D. sued for alleged abuse 1994.

Eliscard case Rev. Jean-Level Eliscard was convicted of sexual abuse, given 3 year sentence, returned to Haiti.

McAlinden affair Rev. Terence O. McAlinden, priest at St. Theresa’s Parish, was accused of sexual abuse. After the Diocese of Trenton determined Chris Naples’ accusations to be “credible,” Bishop John Smith promptly removed McAlinden from his position as pastor of St. Theresa’s Parish and placed him on administrative leave until the case could be formally reviewed by the Vatican. A second victim has been identified

1. Naples accusation Chris Naples recounted how he met McAlinden in the spring of 1985 while at a weekend retreat at the Jeremiah Retreat House in Keyport. Naples said McAlinden began sexually abusing him soon afterward aboard his boat, the “Poorbox,” and continued the abuse for more than a decade, 15 September 2008.

Magee affair Rev. Patrick Francis Magee, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Bay Head, was charged with “committing an act of gross indecency on or towards a child” between 1 January 1965, and 31 December 1969. Arrested 28 December 2003 when he was visiting family in Northern Ireland. The charges were withdrawn 22 September 2004 because the alleged victim committed suicide three weeks earlier, leaving authorities with insufficient evidence to continue with the case. Magee asked the Diocese of Trenton to put him back in the borough parish he used to lead.

Selvaraj affair Rev. James Selvaraj, from India, the adjunct priest of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, was placed on leave pending the outcome of an investigation on sexual abuse, October 2005. Mercer County grand jury threw out a charge of endangering the welfare of a child, February 2006.

Tumang affair Rev. Florencia Tumang accused of abuse. May have fled country.