NEW JERSEY
The Star-Ledger
By Mark Mueller/The Star-Ledger
The Archdiocese of Newark has reached a $75,000 settlement with a man who alleges he was plied with alcohol, physically threatened and molested four decades ago by a Roman Catholic priest.
The man, who asked to be identified by his initials, F.P., because he is an alleged victim of sexual abuse, contends the Rev. John Nickas sexually assaulted him at least a half dozen times between 1970 and 1972 at St. Rocco’s Church in Newark. The parish has since merged with St. Ann’s Church to form the Parish of the Transfiguration.
Nickas, who was well known in Essex County for his work on behalf of the poor and the homeless, died in 2008 at age 68. He had served as pastor of St. Rocco’s and, later, pastor of St. Peter Claver Church in Montclair. It is the first time he has been publicly accused of abuse.
Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who represents F.P., and Robert Hoatson, a New Jersey advocate for victims of clergy sex abuse, jointly announced the settlement earlier this week.
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