What to know about the newly released list of priests, others accused of abuse in NJ

By Candace Mitchell
North Jersey Record
May 6, 2019

https://njersy.co/2VM1B1u

On Monday, a law firm released a list of names of more than 300 priests and others connected to the church who have been accused of sexual misconduct who have served in New Jersey. 

Here's what you should know about the list. 

The list contains the names of diocesan priests, religious order priests, deacons, nuns, and religious brothers and sisters accused of sexual misconduct and associated with the Catholic Dioceses in New Jersey. 

It also includes the cleric's work history. Attorneys said this was included to help families discern where the "perils have been and where the perils may still be." 

Yes, the list released three months ago was released by New Jersey's Roman Catholic dioceses and named 188 priests and deacons who have been credibly accused of sexually abuse.

They key difference is the word credible. Many of the names on the list are allegations that have not been proven in court. 

Unlike the list the New Jersey's Roman Catholic dioceses released three months ago, this list did not include any details, like number of victims or whether the religious person was laicized. 

According to the report, the information on the list is derived from publicly available sources, claims made by survivors to the diocese and religious orders responsible for the offenders, as well as legal settlements made as a result of claims for sexual abuse. 

“While lawsuits were filed involving many of these alleged perpetrators, the vast majority of the claims against these individuals have been settled or have not been fully evaluated in a civil or criminal court,’’ the report reads. “Accordingly, the allegations should be considered just allegations and should not be considered proved or substantiated in a court of law."