Priest Abuse In New Jersey

New Jersey Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuits

The New Jersey “look back” window opened on December 1, 2019. Since then, survivors have filed more than 230 priest abuse lawsuits against the New Jersey Catholic dioceses. These lawsuits represent more than 240 survivors. The majority of the abuse allegations occurred in the 1970s and 1980s. Nearly half of the priests named in these lawsuits are deceased.

However, survivors have legal options even when an abusive priest is deceased. For example, in May 2021, a survivor filed one of the most recent cases against the Newark Archdiocese. The plaintiff claims the former Newark archbishop, Peter Gerety, sexually abused her multiple times in the 1970s. The plaintiff was five years old when the bishop began abusing her.

Clergy Abuse Settlements In New Jersey

The five New Jersey dioceses have paid at least $50 million in clergy abuse settlements. Individually, each diocese has paid thousands of dollars to compensate abuse survivors. For example, since 2003, the Paterson Diocese has paid at least $12.5 million to settle abuse claims. 

Some of the more notable New Jersey diocese settlements are listed below.

Year	Diocese	Settlement	Victim(s)
2004	Newark	$1,070,000	10
2005	Paterson	$5,000,000	27
2011	Trenton	$1,000,000	5
2013	Newark	$650,000	5
2014	Trenton	$610,000	1
2019	Newark	$400,000	5

To reduce the number of lawsuits and settlements against the church, the dioceses opened a victim compensation program in 2019.

New Jersey Dioceses Compensation Fund

In February 2019, the five dioceses of New Jersey created the Independent Victim Compensation Program (IVCP). Survivors of New Jersey clergy abuse were able to file claims for compensation from the dioceses.

As of January 2020, the IVCP authorized $11 million in payouts to 69 applicants. Hundreds of applications are still being reviewed.

In August 2020, the Diocese of Camden suspended its participation in the IVCP. The diocese cited lost revenue caused by COVID-19 restrictions as the reason behind its decision. The Camden Diocese will pay any awards already determined by the program coordinators. However, all unresolved claims against the diocese will be paused for the foreseeable future. 

The ICVP will continue reviewing and processing claims made against the Archdiocese of Newark, the Diocese of Metuchen, the Diocese of Paterson and the Diocese of Trenton.

Survivors who do not wish to seek compensation through the IVCP may still file a lawsuit against the diocese that covered up their abuse. Our clergy abuse lawyers can help you determine the best option for your unique circumstances.

New Jersey Diocese Bankruptcy

In October 2020, the Diocese of Camden filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It was the first diocese in New Jersey to seek bankruptcy protection following the passage of Bill S477, which opened a “look-back” window for survivors.

Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan cited costly victim settlements and revenue lost during the pandemic as reasons behind the decision. According to the bishop, the diocese paid more than $8 million to victims before filing for bankruptcy.

Child Sex Abuse Statutes Of Limitations In New Jersey

A statute of limitations (SOL) is a legal deadline. Statutes vary based on the jurisdiction, the crime and the intended legal action (i.e., criminal charges versus a civil claim).

Like most states, New Jersey has two distinct statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse claims. One applies to criminal charges, and one is used for civil claims.

In 2019, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 477 (S477) to extend the state’s civil statute for claims of sexual abuse. The bill also opened a two-year retroactive window. This window revives all expired cases of child sexual abuse for two years. In doing so, it allows survivors with older claims of abuse to seek legal justice.

Civil Statutes For Child Sex Abuse In New Jersey

In New Jersey, child sexual abuse survivors must file a civil claim before they reach 55 years of age.

The state also has a seven-year discovery rule. Any survivor, regardless of their age, may file a civil claim within seven years of discovering an injury caused by abuse. 

Before New Jersey lawmakers extended the legal deadline, survivors had only two years to file a legal claim. People who were abused as minors had to file a claim before turning 20 years old. 

Despite offering many survivors more time to file, the new civil statute is not retroactive. Under the new statute, many survivors with older claims are still time-barred from seeking legal action. To remedy this issue, lawmakers opened a two-year “look back” window. 

New Jersey’s “Look Back” Window

Under New Jersey’s “look back” window, anyone can file a civil claim of child sexual abuse in the state of New Jersey. 

The “look back” window applies to both child and adult sexual abuse claims. It also applies to claims filed against abusive individuals, private institutions and government entities. 

The two-year window opened on December 1, 2019. Victims of sexual abuse may file sex abuse claims until November 30, 2021.

Criminal Statutes For Child Sex Abuse In New Jersey

In New Jersey, there is no criminal statute of limitations for felony or aggravated sexual assault. 

Other sexual offenses or incidents of child abuse may abide by a different criminal statute. Learn more about New Jersey’s criminal statutes as they relate to child sexual abuse here. 

List Of Priests Accused Of Abuse In New Jersey

This list contains the names of clergy members and priests in the New Jersey dioceses facing allegations of sexual abuse. 

This list does not include diocesan staff members, volunteers or parishioners facing similar allegations. However, you may still be able to file a civil claim against these accused individuals.

If you or a loved one has been abused by a clergy member in the New Jersey dioceses, contact us about your legal rights. We can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.

New Jersey Priest Abuse Victim Resources

Victims of sexual violence do not need to process the trauma alone. In the state of New Jersey, there are many resources and organizations a survivor can contact for help. The expandable table below provides information on each New Jersey county’s sexual violence program.

New Jersey Sexual Violence Programs by County

County	Facility Name	Phone Number(s)
Atlantic	Avanzar	Hotline: 800-286-4184 Office: 609-601-9925
Bergen	healingSPACE YWCA of Bergen County	Hotline: 201-487-2227
Burlington	CONTACT of Burlington County	Hotline: 856-234-8888 Hotline: 866-234-5006 Office: 856-234-5484
Camden	Services Empowering the Rights of Victims (SERV) Center for Family Services	Hotline: 1-866-295-SERV (7378) Office: 856-964-1990
Cape May	C.A.R.A., Inc.	Office: 609-522-6489 Toll-Free: 1-877-294-2272
Cumberland	Services Empowering the Rights of Victims (SERV) Center for Family Services	Hotline: 800-225-0196 Office: 856-696-2032
Essex	SAVE of Essex County Family Service League, Inc.	Hotline: 877-733-CARE (2273) Office: 973-746-0800
Gloucester	Services Empowering the Rights of Victims (SERV) Center for Family Services	Hotline: 1-866-295-SERV (7378)
Hudson	Hudson S.P.E.A.K.S (Formerly known as Hudson County Rape Crisis Center) CAREPOINT Foundation	Hotline: 201-795-5757
Hunterdon	SAFE in Hunterdon	Hotline: 888-988-4033 Office: 908-788-7666 Toll-Free: 888-988-4033
Mercer	Womanspace	Hotline: 609-394-9000 Office: 609-394-0136
Middlesex	Middlesex County Center for Empowerment	Hotline: 1-877-665-7273 Office: 732-321-1189
Monmouth	180 Turning Lives Around	Hotline: 888-264-7273 Office: 732-264-4111
Morris	Atlantic Behavioral Health	Hotline: 973-829-0587
Ocean	St. Francis Community Center	Hotline: 609-494-1090 Office: 609-494-1554
Passaic	Passaic County Women’s Center	Hotline: 973-881-1450 Office: 973-881-0725
Salem	Salem County Women’s Services	Hotline: 856-935-6655
Somerset	Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS), Zufall Health Center	Hotline: 908-526-7444 Office: 908-526-2335
Sussex	Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Services (DASI)	Hotline: 973-875-1211 TTY: 973-875-6369 Office: 973-579-2386
Union	Union County Rape Crisis Center	Hotline: 908-233-7273 TTY: 908-232-1435
Warren	Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center (DASACC)	Hotline: 908.453.4181 Office: 908.453.4121
Sources:	New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault

New Jersey Priest Abuse FAQs

What Is The Statute Of Limitations On Priest Sexual Abuse In New Jersey?

Currently, any survivor of childhood priest abuse can file a civil lawsuit in the state of New Jersey. New Jersey has an open “look back” window that revives all child sexual abuse cases. Eligible survivors should consider filing a claim soon. The “look back” window closes on November 30, 2021.

Learn more about child sexual abuse statutes in New Jersey here >

How Do I Report Sexual Abuse By A Priest In New Jersey?

The state of New Jersey has several hotlines to report child sexual abuse:

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal is investigating Catholic priest abuse in New Jersey. People may report cases of sexual abuse by a clergy member to the investigation by calling a special 24-hour hotline at 855-363-6548.

Reporting the abuse to the state Attorney General’s Office does not prevent a victim from reporting the crime to law enforcement or the County Prosecutor’s Office for criminal prosecution.

You can also report incidents of clergy abuse to the relevant diocese:

Do I Have To Currently Live In New Jersey To File A New Jersey Priest Abuse Lawsuit?

No. A plaintiff does not need to live in the state of New Jersey to file a clergy abuse lawsuit in the state. However, there must be some connection in the case to New Jersey.

Examples of a notable legal connection include the following:

• The abuse occurred in New Jersey.
• The responsible institution is headquartered in New Jersey.

Once identified, this connection can dictate how an experienced clergy abuse attorney handles each specific case.