Priest Abuse In New Jersey

New Jersey Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuits & Settlements

New Jersey dioceses and religious associations have paid out more than $200 million to victims. The Catholic Church in the state has faced over 800 lawsuits. Many of these lawsuits were filed after New Jersey lawmakers opened a “look back” window for survivors. 

The “look back” window revived expired legal claims for victims of childhood sexual abuse. It closed on November 30, 2021.

Lawsuits may result in settlements or verdicts. Settlements are agreements between dioceses and victims to end lawsuits. If cases go to trial, juries may deliver verdicts deciding whether dioceses are liable for abuse. Clergy abuse lawyers can file lawsuits and negotiate settlements on behalf of victims.

$183 Million Settlement With the Diocese of Camden

In February 2026, the Diocese of Camden agreed to pay $180 million to settle around 300 claims of abuse. The settlement is the culmination of a bankruptcy process begun by the diocese in 2020.

As part of the settlement, the diocese has agreed to take steps to prevent abuse and provide more transparency.

$5 Million Jury Verdict Against the Order of St. Benedict

In October 2025, a jury found the Order of St. Benedict of New Jersey liable for sexual abuse that occurred at Delbarton School, a school it operates in Morristown. The verdict is the first of its kind in New Jersey.

The jury found that Father Richard Lott had sexually abused a 15-year-old student in the 1970s. Moreover, they agreed that the Order of St. Benedict was negligent in keeping Lott in his position at the school. Brian Clarke, who was abbot at the time, testified that he destroyed a letter the victim sent to him reporting the abuse.

Other New Jersey Clergy Abuse Settlements

The five dioceses in New Jersey have faced many other lawsuits from victims. Below are more examples of settlement amounts received by people alleging abuse.

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

New Jersey Dioceses Compensation Fund (Program Finished)

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. It continued to review hundreds of applications after announcing these payouts. According to the Diocese of Metuchen, the IVCP has reviewed and processed all claims it received.

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 revived all expired cases of child sexual abuse for two years. In doing so, it allowed 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 could file a civil claim of child sexual abuse in the state of New Jersey. 

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

The two-year window opened on December 1, 2019. The “look back” window closed on 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?

In New Jersey, a child sexual abuse survivor must file a civil lawsuit before they turn 55. This applies to lawsuits against abusive priests or dioceses accused of covering up abuse.

New Jersey also has a seven-year discovery rule. A survivor may file a civil claim within seven years of discovering an injury caused by abuse, regardless of age.

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.