METUCHEN (NJ)
NorthJersey.com [Woodland Park NJ]
April 23, 2026
By Deena Yellin, NorthJersey.com
A Bergen County man who said he was abused for nearly two decades by former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has settled his lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Newark and Diocese of Metuchen, receiving an award that his attorney described as in the “high six-figures.”
James Grein, who grew up in Tenafly, alleged that he was molested dozens of times in New Jersey and outside the state by McCarrick, including at a family wedding in Massachusetts. According to Grein, the abuse by McCarrick, a family friend, began in the 1970s when he was 11 years old. It allegedly lasted through 2000, when McCarrick ended his tenure as Archbishop of Newark to take the same position in Washington, D.C.
McCarrick died last April at 94. He was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019 after a Vatican investigation determined he sexually molested adults as well as children.
The settlement was announced at a Thursday, April 23, news conference on Zoom by Mitch Garabedian, Grein’s attorney.
Garabedian called Grein a “courageous man” and urged other survivors of clergy abuse to seek help. “You cannot do this alone.” he said.
The Archdiocese of Newark released a statement Thursday afternoon that said it “recognizes the seriousness of allegations of sexual abuse and the lasting harm such conduct can cause. We express our deep sorrow for the pain endured by survivors and their families, and we commend the courage of those who come forward to share their experiences. The resolution of this matter reflects a mutual agreement to avoid prolonged litigation and to allow all parties to move forward. While the Archdiocese does not comment on the specifics of settled claims, we remain steadfast in our commitment to accountability, transparency, and the protection of those entrusted to our care.”
The Metuchen Diocese did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Grein, who is 67 and now lives in Virginia, was not on the conference call. In a written statement, he said: “Moving forward with the Metuchen and Newark civil cases represents an important and prayerful step in my continuing pursuit of healing and truth. Today, my peace rests with God. I remain profoundly grateful for His enduring presence and for the compassion, understanding and support shown by so many throughout this journey.”
Reached Thursday by phone, he told The Record that he’s grateful to Garabedian for what he’s helped him accomplish. “Please pray for me as I continue to walk tall and be able to help others in need. Helping others is my life’s purpose,” he added.
Additional lawsuits against the Archdiocese of New York, where McCarrick began his priesthood, and the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Manhattan will continue in New York State court, said Garabedian.
Once a widely respected figure in the Catholic Church, McCarrick was promoted to high-ranking positions and traveled the world on behalf of the Church. But for years, rumors swirled about his inappropriate behavior with seminarians, including talk that he shared a bed with students at a church-owned beach house on the Jersey Shore and exerted his power to demand sexual favors.
In 2018, allegations became public that he had abused a teen some five decades earlier while serving in New York. A Vatican report eventually found that McCarrick had abused at least 17 young men and boys throughout his career, though Catholic leaders had downplayed reports of his misconduct for years.
McCarrick became the highest-ranking church leader to be removed from the priesthood in 2019 when Francis expelled him.
First cardinal to face criminal abuse charges
He also became the first U.S. cardinal to face criminal charges for sexual abuse when he was charged in Massachusetts and Wisconsin in 2021 and 2023. The accuser in those cases was Grein.
McCarrick’s attorneys argued in 2023 that their client was not competent to stand trial because of dementia.
In a brief telephone conversation shortly thereafter, McCarrick told a reporter for The Record and NorthJersey.com that he knew who Grein was and remembered him. Of the allegations, he said, “The things he said about me are not true,” before referring other questions to his lawyers.
More: ‘If he’s found guilty, I’m free:’ NJ man yearns for conviction of ex-Cardinal McCarrick
Both of the criminal cases were dismissed after McCarrick was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial.
At the news conference, Garabedian, who represents dozens of plaintiffs in clergy abuse cases, said “it is incumbent” on the Vatican’s current leader, Pope Leo, to have “each archdiocese and diocese worldwide publicly release the Canon Law 489 secret files or secret archives. Contained in those secret files or archives is evidence of sexual abuse and the cover up.”
Doing this, Garabedian said, “will help keep children safe in the future.”