Wayne pastor disciplined after priest accused of sex abuse is seen at parish festival

NEW JERSEY
The Record

MAY 23, 2014
BY STAFF REPORT
THE RECORD

The Roman Catholic bishop of Paterson today suspended a Wayne pastor on suspicion that he permitted a former priest who is alleged to have sexually abused minors to attend a festival at the Valley Road parish this month, the Diocese of Paterson announced.

John Capparelli, formerly a priest in the Archdiocese of Newark and a former teacher in the Newark public school system, was seen at the annual Family Festival at Our Lady of the Valley parish during the week of May 14, according to a statement released by the Paterson diocese.

The statement said that Capparelli’s public-school teaching license had been revoked because of allegations of sexual abuse against minors while he was an active priest.

As a result, Bishop Arthur Serratelli placed Mgsr. Christopher C. DiLella, the parish pastor, on administrative leave and “revoked his priestly faculties, pending a full investigation of the matter.” Serratelli took the action, the statement said, following a preliminary investigation that included consulting with the Diocesan Review Board on Thursday.

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