NEWARK (NJ)
NJ Spotlight News - WNET [New York NY]
September 4, 2025
By Briana Viannozzi
Former student Billy Crane reflects on his own fight for justice
This week marks a historic moment in New Jersey, with the first civil sex abuse case against the Catholic Church in the state to go to trial. At issue is a string of accusations against the Delbarton School, a prominent Catholic college-preparatory school in Morristown.
The lawsuit, filed by a former student known only by the initials T.M., alleges abuse by a Benedictine monk in the 1970s, and accuses the Order of St. Benedictine — which owns and operates the school — of enabling that abuse.
Jury selection began Tuesday, despite attempts by the school to delay the trial over concerns of media exposure. Delbarton and the Order of St. Benedict face 39 pending lawsuits.
Former student Billy Crane knows this story all too well. He and his twin brother, Tom, sued Delbarton in 2012 alleging they were abused by priests during their time on school grounds. Their case was settled in 2018, one of dozens of others to be settled without the church admitting liability.
“They’ve been very successful with their lawyers intimidating and internalizing a whole culture of abuse,” said Crane in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. “The Abbey should be shut down altogether… Lives have been shattered. People have resorted to drug abuse and suicide.”
Crane continued that the blame is wide.
“The whole Delbarton greater community failed miserably in giving their fellow classmates and people that were sexually abused numerous times at the school any support,” he added. “Their lawyers have intimidated and created this culture and its an accepted culture among the clergy. This is a never-ending scandal that sees no end.”
In a statement to NJ Spotlight News, a spokesperson said Delbarton is not commenting on current litigation, but offered the following joint statement from St. Mary’s Abbey Administrator Abbot Jonathan Licari, O.S.B. and Delbarton School Headmaster Fr. Michael Tidd, O.S.B.:
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of the young people entrusted to our care, and we aggressively adhere to rigorous standards to ensure their well-being. Please note that both St. Mary’s Abbey and Delbarton School are accredited by Praesidium, an independent risk management organization that audits procedures to ensure a safe environment.”
Anchor
An Emmy award-winning journalist, Briana Vannozzi serves as the anchor for NJ Spotlight News, the newsroom of NJ PBS. She’s worked in several capacities since joining the news division in 2012, as … read more