Diocese of Metuchen NJ

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Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

21 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. John M. Banko

Ordained: 1972
Status: Convicted

Died: 2/29/2016
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Removed from ministry in 2000. Convicted in 2002 on charges of molesting an 11-year-old boy in 1993. Sentenced to 15 years. At least nine other alleged victims, abused as young as age six. Additional criminal charges were filed in 9/2006 alleging abuse of a boy 1994-1995. Pleaded not guilty in 11/2006. Convicted in 2008. Diagnosed as a "repetitive and compulsive sexual offender." Sentenced in 9/2008 to an additional 18 years. Died 2/29/2016 at the New Jersey Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Woodbridge NJ. On the diocese's list 2/13/2019. Included on the Baltimore archdiocese's list, which notes sexual abuse alleged in 2002 by Banko in the early 1970s while a seminarian at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's report. Lawsuit filed in 8/2024 under the MD Child Victims Act claims abuse of a boy for 7 years, beginning in 1970 when the boy was age 6.

Fr. Patrick H. Barrett

Ordained: 1957
Status: Sued

Died: 1/31/2005
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 9/2020 of sexually abusing a child, ages 9-10, in 1983-1984, at St. Anthony of Padua in Woodbridge. Barrett died in 2005.

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Fr. John J. Casey

Ordained: 1984
Status: Accused

Died: 8/1/2008
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Placed on leave in 7/2005. Accused of abuse of a minor in approximately 1987. No criminal prosecution because statute of limitations expired. Reportedly in 5/2007, canonical trial of Casey was in its "early procedural stages." Died 8/1/2008. Obituary referred to him as pastor of St. Joseph's Church. Bishop Bootkoski performed burial mass. On diocese's list 2/13/2019.

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Fr. Michael J. Cashman

Ordained: 1975
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

From Ireland. Cashman was placed on leave in 2002 after an allegation that he sexually abused a former parishioner, and her her son and daughter in 1978 at a parish in Old Bridge. Other allegations were also made. Included in a 1/2003 settlement claiming abuse by 5 priests. Cashman denied all allegations. A 3/2009 church trial found him guilty of one count of abuse 1980-1983; he was permanently removed from public ministry. On 7/27/2014 the Diocese announced that that an appeals court had found Cashman guilty of the "ongoing sexual abuse" of two children in the early 1980s. He was dismissed from the priesthood, per a 7/21/2014 letter from the Bishop. Included 2/13/2019 on the Diocese's list of credibly accused.

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Fr. Raymond L. Cole

Ordained: 1972
Status: Indicted

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Cole was pastor of St. Joseph's in Hillsborough, NJ when removed from active ministry, as announced 10/25/2013, after an allegation that he sexually abused minor in late the 1970s. He was pastor at St. Mary's in South Amboy at the time of the alleged abuse. The county prosecutor informed the Diocese; there were no criminal charges due to statute of limitations. The Diocesan Review Board and a retired investigator deemed the allegation "not frivolous." Cole denied the allegation. In 11/15 Cole was found not guilty by a church tribunal, composed of three priests from outside the diocese. Cole was planning to go to Guatemala to study Spanish, then return to the diocese to do Hispanic ministry.

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Fr. Mark J. Dolak

Ordained: 1979
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

In 1991 a woman received a settlement for sexual abuse by Dolak which allegedly occurred 1979-1987, beginning when she was age 13 and an Our Lady of Peace school student and parishioner in Fords, NJ., where Dolak was assigned. Dolak was also accused of sexually abusing a boy at an unspecified date. Claims against him were included in a 1/2003 settlement between the Diocese and victims of five priests. The Diocese reportedly said that three people had come forward with claims against Dolak, who went on to work as an acute care family support specialist at Monmouth Medical Center. He was no longer there in 2/2019. Included 2/13/2019 on the Diocese's list of credibly accused. In 4/2019 the Diocese announced that Dolak had been laicized.

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Fr. Kevin P. Duggan

Ordained: 1987
Status: Sued

Died: 7/6/2017
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

In 11/2013 Bishop Bootkoski informed parishioners at St. James the Less in Jamesburg that Duggan had been accused of sexually abusing a young developmentally-challenged adult in the early 1990s at St. James Parish in Woodbridge. The Diocese first learned of the alleged abuse in 4/2013. Duggan resigned from the parish in 7/2013 and was sent for four months to Guest House in MN for treatment of alcoholism. He adamantly denied the allegations. The Diocesan Review Board found the accuser to be credible and Duggan's privileges were removed. He died 7/6/2017. A lawsuit was filed on behalf of the victim in 6/2019. The Diocese offered a settlement in 7/2020.

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Fr. George A. Farrell

Ordained: 1996
Status: Reinstated

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Farrell was a Brother of Charity for 12 years, prior to his 1996 ordination to the priesthood. In 5/2003 he was placed on leave and sent to a "supervised living facility" after he was accused of an isolated incident of having engaged in inappropriate communication over the internet with a minor in 1997. Police and the Division of Youth and Family Services investigated. No criminal charges were filed and Farrell returned to ministry in 10/2004.

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Fr. Thomas P. Ganley

Ordained: 1985
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Charged in 1/2019 with sexually assaulting a girl, ages 14-17, in 1990-1994 while assigned to St. Cecilia's in Woodbridge. The girl was involved in the parish CCD program. In a secret recording and to investigators, Ganley admitted to the "sexual conduct." The abuse occurred in NJ, FL and Washington DC. He pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a minor under age 16 in exchange for a sentence of four years in state prison. He was also required to register as a sex offender. Included 2/13/2019 on the Diocese's list of credibly accused. In a 12/2019 lawsuit Ganley was accused, along with Rev. Robert Witkowski, of sexually abusing a teenage boy in the early 1990s. The plaintiff claimed the priests also abused other boys.

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Fr. John C. Giordano

Ordained: 1967
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Giordano retired from St. Luke Parish in North Plainfield early in 5/2007, attributing his retirement to the pressures of running a parish and allegations of sexual misconduct. The allegations were reported and investigated over 25 year prior. Giordano denied all allegations and stated that they "were handled properly according to both civil and canon law." Included 2/13/2019 on the Diocese's list of credibly accused.

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Fr. John Huels

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1976
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Accused in 1994 of sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy in the 1970s in New Jersey. Admitted the abuse. A second victim came forward. Huels was forced to step down as head of the Chicago-based Servites and went to Africa for a few years. He was hired in 1997 by St. Paul University in Ottawa, ON, Canada. By 2002 he was still a priest as well as a professor and vice dean of canon law at St. Paul's. St. Paul's said he took medical leave for the treatment of severe depression in 8/2002 after the allegation surfaced. The Ottawa archbishop said Huels was leaving the Servites and would seek laicization. In 9/2018 he was still a professor of canon law at Saint Paul's. He was removed from that position after publicity the same month.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Anthony M. Kramarz

Ordained: 1950
Status: Accused

Died: 4/30/1998
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 2/13/2019. Kramarz is the subject of multiple allegations, per the list in 2022. He died in 1998.

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Fr. Patrick J. Kuffner

Ordained: 2002
Status: Charged

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Virgin in Middlesex Borough when suspended from ministry in 2/2018. Kuffner was accused by three people of sexually abusing them as minors when he was a teacher at Sacred Heart School on Staten Island around 1983, prior to ordination. Included 2/13/2019 on the Diocese's list of credibly accused. Criminally charged in 11/2019 with the sexual assault of a minor between ages 13-16, in Springfield, MA in the 1980s. Pleaded not guilty 12/12/2019.

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Fr. Gregory J. Littleton

Ordained: 1990
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Per Metuchen Bishop Bootkoski, Littleton gave information to the Diocese in 1993 that implicated him in the sexual abuse of two minors. He was removed from ministry and sent for a psychiatric evaluation and therapy. He was allowed to return to ministry on a limited basis, returning full time in 1997. In 1997 he was transferred to the Charlotte diocese, which was told of his past. In 10/2002 allegations were reported to Metuchen and passed on to Charlotte. He was not removed by Charlotte until 2/2004, when the allegations were deemed credible. Reportedly in 8/2018, Littleton claimed he was a victim of sexual misconduct by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Littleton was included 2/13/2019 on the Metuchen diocese's list of credibly accused, and on the Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/2019.

Assignments:

Diocese of Charlotte Assignment Record 12.29.19

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Fr. Michael McGuire

Ordained: 1958
Status: Sued

Died: 3/10/2000
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Died in 2000. Named publicly in 11/2021 by Attorney Jeff Anderson as accused in a lawsuit filed under the NJ Victims’ Rights Bill.

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Br. Regis Moccia

Donate Photo

Order: SC
Status: Sued

Died: 6/28/2002
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 9/2020 of sexually abusing a boy, ages 13-14, in about 1994-1995. The alleged victim was a student at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. Accused in a 2021 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy, ages 14-15, during 1981-1982, while assigned to St. Joseph's High. Moccia died 6/28/2002.

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Deacon Dann Rossi

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1982
Status: Accused

Deceased
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Deacon. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 2/13/2019. Deceased.

Sources:

Diocese of Metuchen List 02.13.19

Fr. Eladio Sanchez

Donate Photo

Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 12/2019 of sexually abusing a boy, ages 11-14, at Our Lay of Mount Carmel in New Brunswick, 1979-1982.

Assignments:

BishopAccountability.org Assignment Record

Sources:

North Jersey Record 12.01.19

Fr. Michael P. Santillo

Ordained: 1975
Status: Guilty plea

Died: 5/10/2000
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Left the active priesthood in 1992 to care for his parents. Criminally charged in 5/1997 with molesting a 13-year-old boy in 1987. Was employed as an office worker at the time of his arrest at a parish in the Albany, NY diocese. Pleaded guilty in 1999. There are three additional known victims. Sentenced to ten years. Died of cancer in prison in 2000. Three claims were included in a 1/2003 diocesan settlement involving abuse by five priests. Accused in a lawsuit in 12/2020 of grooming then sexually abusing a boy when the boy was in elementary and high school. Santillo allegedly began to ply the boy with alcohol then molest him when he was a teen in 1983, in the the rectory of St. Mary's in Perth Amboy and during a trip to Disney World.

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Br. John B. Spalding

Status: Charged

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Taught at St. Joseph's High School in Metuchen. Charged in 2/2016 with possessing and viewing child pornography on his computer. Released on bail. Was to return to his home in RI.

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Fr. Tomasz Adam Zielinski

Donate Photo

Order: CSsR
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

From Poland. Began working at Christ King Parish in Manville in 4/2008. In 7/2008 a teenage girl complained to flight attendants that he was groping her and attempting to unzip her pants during a flight from Poland to the US. Zielinski was criminally charged about one week later. Placed on leave by the Diocese. Pleaded guilty 10/1/2008. Sentenced to one year in federal prison in 1/2009. Released in 1/2010.

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