Crime & Safety Here's List Of NJ Priests Accused Of Child Sexual Abuse (UPDATED) A top priest was expelled; more names have been released. The NJ Catholic Church said it posted the nearly 200 names to provide "healing." Reply (1) (Shutterstock photo) Leaders of the Catholic Church in New Jersey revealed the names of priests "credibly accused" of child sex abuse Wednesday to help victims heal as more revelations have been made in recent months. The pope also expelled a top priest in New Jersey days after the names were posted. The list shows nearly 200 members of the clergy with ties to New Jersey who have faced allegations of child sex abuse. Nearly all of them were either sanctioned by the church, charged with a crime or both. Patch has the list of priests and deacons provided by each New Jersey archdiocese – Metuchen, Newark, Trenton, Camden and Paterson – below. All five New Jersey dioceses released names and church affiliations. Pope Francis expelled a top New Jersey Catholic church leader from the ministry on Saturday, just days after his name appeared on the list. Read more: Pope Expels Top NJ Priest Days After Child Sex Abuse List Release Some questions also have been raised about the list, and whether it's complete. Read more: Missing Names On List Of NJ Priests Accused Of Child Sex Abuse? Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, said the list includes all those from New Jersey who were credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors dating back to 1940. "The revelations of clergy sexual abuse of minors throughout this past year have provoked feelings of shock, anger, shame, and deep sorrow throughout our Catholic community," he said. "In an effort to do what is right and just, we are publishing the names of diocesan clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. "This list of names is the result of an extensive review of Archdiocesan records dating back to 1940. It is our sincerest hope that this disclosure will help bring healing to those whose lives have been so deeply violated. We also pray that this can serve as an initial step in our efforts to help restore trust in the leadership of the Catholic Church."<doc-sep>Follow CBSPHILLY Facebook | Twitter NEWARK, N.J. (CBS/AP) — New Jersey’s five Roman Catholic dioceses listed more than 180 priests Wednesday who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors over a span of several decades, joining more than two dozen other states that have named suspected abusers in the wake of a landmark grand jury report in Pennsylvania last year. The lists released Wednesday identified priests and deacons who served in the dioceses of Camden, Trenton, Metuchen and Paterson and the archdiocese of Newark. Many priests on the lists are deceased, and others have been removed from ministry. Children Evacuated From Bucks County Elementary School After Fire Breaks Out Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, which listed 63 former priests, said in a statement that he hoped the disclosure “will help bring healing to those whose lives have been so deeply violated.” Camden’s diocese listed 56 priests and one deacon; Trenton’s diocese named 30 priests; the Paterson diocese listed 28; and Metuchen’s diocese named nine plus two others who are currently the subject of civil investigations. Todd Kostrub says, starting at the age of 7, he was sexually abused by a Catholic clergyman in South Jersey. “It continued many years, all through grade school, and I just didn’t understand it,” said Kostrub. “It was disturbing. It was the most vile thing you could do to a child.” Attorney Greg Gianforcaro, who represents several abuse victims, says he believes the list is overdue and will empower many who have suffered in silence. “Now, for those victims who think they were the only ones abused by certain priests, are going to read that list and hopefully muster up the courage to come out and disclose it,” said Gianforcaro. Camden Diocese Accused Priests List While framing several times that the sexual abuse was mostly a problem in the past, Bishop Dennis Sullivan said in a statement, “To be certain, the darkest stain on the Catholic Church in the last century was the sexual abuse of minors by priests. Unfortunately, we have all learned that this ‘filth,’ as Pope Benedict correctly called it, was more pervasive than anyone imagined, or even thought possible. ” For some, the list may be shocking. Saint Rose of Lima parish in Haddon Heights had nine sexually abusive priests and ministers in their congregation over the years. Donna Tasca, who runs a bakery across the street from Saint Rose, says she’s disgusted. “As a Catholic, I won’t contribute anymore to the church because all you’re doing is paying for their lawyers,” said Tasca. State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal formed a task force in the fall to conduct a criminal investigation into sexual abuse by clergy in the state, shortly after a Pennsylvania grand jury report identified over 300 predator priests and more than 1,000 victims in that state. “While this is a positive first step towards transparency and accountability, I hope this spirit of openness continues during the course of our ongoing investigation and in response to our requests for records and information,” Grewal said in a statement Wednesday. Trenton Diocese Accused Priests List Newark’s list includes Theodore McCarrick, a former Newark archbishop who served as Washington, D.C., archbishop from 2000 to 2006. McCarrick was removed from public ministry in June. The lists released by the diocese don’t include details about specific allegations or when they are alleged to have happened; rather, any details about the named priests and the crimes of which they are accused come from court records or previously published reports. Several priests who served in the Newark archdiocese have been accused of molesting boys as part of their volunteer work with Boy Scout troops, according to published reports. Others named in the release were arrested, convicted or pleaded guilty and were returned to service after probation or treatment, according to court records and published reports. Carmen Sita changed his name to Gerald Howard after being sentenced to probation and receiving treatment and began serving as a priest in the Jefferson City, Missouri, diocese where he was assigned to a parish attached to a school. He was later accused of abusing teenage boys and was convicted a second time. The Missouri diocese reported Howard is currently incarcerated. Philadelphia Police Investigating After Shots Fired At SEPTA Subway Station Former priest Richard Mieliwocki, who was convicted and sentenced to probation, disappeared after starting counseling and resurfaced when he was accused of molesting teenagers as a counselor in an in-patient substance abuse program. Another priest named Wednesday, Manuel Gallo Espinoza, was indicted by a grand jury in 2016 after admitting to at least one allegation of abuse. He fled to Ecuador, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The lists don’t include religious order priests, such as Jesuits, who may serve in parishes or schools but are not ordained by the diocese. A victims’ compensation fund announced this week in New Jersey also won’t cover claims against religious order priests. Mitchell Garabedian, an attorney who has represented alleged victims in New Jersey, said the release of names isn’t enough. “Given the vast number of priests named as sexual abusers and the span of time in which the sexual abuse took place, it is fair to state that the Archdiocese and Dioceses in New Jersey have forgotten how to be moral and kind with children,” he said in a statement. Pa. High School Student Critically Injured, Teen In Custody Following Shooting Over Ounce Of Marijuana, Police Say Nearly 2,000 accused clergy members and others nationwide have been identified since and including the Pennsylvania grand jury report, a review by The Associated Press found. (© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)<doc-sep>All of New Jersey’s five Catholic Church dioceses on Wednesday released the names of 189 clergy members they said were credibly accused of sexually assaulting minors. Each diocese disclosed its own list of priests and deacons, all of whom are either dead or no longer serve the church. The Archdiocese of Newark, which is the largest and most populous in New Jersey, reported 63 clergy members accused of sexual abuse, the most among the state dioceses. “It is our sincerest hope that this disclosure will help bring healing to those whose lives have been so deeply violated,” Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, wrote in a letter to parishioners that was posted on the archdiocese’s website. “We also pray that this can serve as an initial step in our efforts to help restore your trust in the leadership of the Catholic Church.” The diocese of Metuchen released 11 names. The diocese of Camden had 57. The diocese of Paterson disclosed 28 names. And the diocese of Trenton issued the names of 30 credibly accused clerics. All five dioceses have previously reported the accused clergy members to law enforcement. The disclosures follow last fall’s announcement that the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey had launched investigations into sexual-abuse allegations against clergy members at dioceses in both states. The New Jersey attorney general’s office brought charges in January for the first time against a priest under this new probe. “While this is a positive first step towards transparency and accountability, I hope this spirit of openness continues during the course of our ongoing investigation and in response to our requests for records and information,” said New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. After the New Jersey investigation was launched, church officials in the state said they would set up a compensation fund for victims whose financial claims are legally barred by the statute of limitations. The church officials tapped Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Biros, who also administered compensation funds for Pennsylvania State University sexual-abuse victims and victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, to lead those efforts. Catholic Church officials have been under new scrutiny since the release in August of a grand-jury report detailing the alleged molestation of over 1,000 children by more than 300 priests in Pennsylvania. Cardinal Tobin said in his letter that victims and their families are rightfully outraged over the abuses. “The failure of Church leadership to immediately remove suspected abusers from ministry is particularly reprehensible,” Cardinal Tobin said. State Sen. Joseph Vitale, a Democrat who has proposed legislation to end the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits involving child sexual abuse against clergy members, said he welcomed the disclosure. “I think this provides some comfort that the church is finally publicly acknowledging the cause that has affected them so much through their entire lives,” Mr. Vitale said, referring to the victims. “This is an important first step. But it’s not the last one.” Mr. Vitale said the attorney general’s investigation will help bring to light the full scope of abuse, including whether any church officials should face criminal charges for protecting priests accused of abuse. Write to Joseph De Avila at joseph.deavila@wsj.com<doc-sep>
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) –New Jersey’s five Roman Catholic dioceses listed more than 180 priests Wednesday who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors over a span of several decades, joining more than two dozen other states that have named suspected abusers in the wake of a landmark grand jury report in Pennsylvania last year. Web Extra: Read the Newark list | Paterson | Metuchen | Trenton | Camden The lists released Wednesday identified priests and deacons who served in the dioceses of Camden, Trenton, Metuchen and Paterson and the archdiocese of Newark. Many priests on the lists are deceased, and others have been removed from ministry. Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, which listed 63 former priests, said in a statement that he hoped the disclosure “will help bring healing to those whose lives have been so deeply violated.” Camden’s diocese listed 56 priests and one deacon; Trenton’s diocese named 30 priests; the Paterson diocese listed 28; and Metuchen’s diocese named nine plus two others who are currently the subject of civil investigations. State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal formed a task force in the fall to conduct a criminal investigation into sexual abuse by clergy in the state, shortly after a Pennsylvania grand jury report identified over 300 predator priests and more than 1,000 victims in that state. “While this is a positive first step towards transparency and accountability, I hope this spirit of openness continues during the course of our ongoing investigation and in response to our requests for records and information,” Grewal said in a statement Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, Virginia’s Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond published a list of 42 priests with a “credible and substantiated” allegation of sexual abuse against a child. Newark’s list includes Theodore McCarrick, a former Newark archbishop who served as Washington, D.C., archbishop from 2000 to 2006. McCarrick was removed from public ministry in June. The lists released by the diocese don’t include details about specific allegations or when they are alleged to have happened; rather, any details about the named priests and the crimes of which they are accused come from court records or previously published reports. Protesters on Wednesday held signs outside of Newark’s Cathedral Basilica, calling the abuse of children “soul murder.” Kevin Waldrip says he was abused in Newark on his 13th birthday by Father Richard Galdon at Our Lady of Good Council. “It’s affected every aspect of my life, it’s changed who I was,” Waldrip said. “It changed my entire sense of self.” “The revelation of clergy sexual abuse of minors throughout the past year have provoked feelings of shock, anger, shame and deep sorrow throughout our Catholic community,” said Tobin. “The failure of church leadership to immediately remove suspected abusers from ministry is particularly reprehensible.” Several priests who served in the Newark archdiocese have been accused of molesting boys as part of their volunteer work with Boy Scout troops, according to published reports. Others named in the release were arrested, convicted or pleaded guilty and were returned to service after probation or treatment, according to court records and published reports. Former priest and current victim advocate Dr. Robert Hoatson says he believes Cardinal Tobin and the Church are both moving in the right direction, but it’s too little too late. “I know of priests that I’ve dealt with in terms of their victims who are not on that list, and we’re going to to make sure they get on that list,” he said. “Looking at that list of names, you see priests who looked like they served in five, ten different parishes. What do you think was going on there?” Baker asked. “Well, the typical shuffle of priests,” Hoatson said. “They usually said ‘let’s get them out of parish x, but we’ll put them in parish y.’ And usually, at a distance so that they thought it would disappear.” “We must all be committed to protecting our children, the most vulnerable members of our community,” Tobin said. Carmen Sita changed his name to Gerald Howard after being sentenced to probation and receiving treatment and began serving as a priest in the Jefferson City, Missouri, diocese where he was assigned to a parish attached to a school. He was later accused of abusing teenage boys and was convicted a second time. The Missouri diocese reported Howard is currently incarcerated.