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: 02/29/2016
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: 01/31/2005
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 9/20 of sexually abusing a child, ages 9-10, in 1983-84, at St. Anthony of Padua in Woodbridge. Barrett died in 2005.

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Fr. John J. Casey

Ordained: 1984
Status: Accused

Died: 08/1/2008
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

Native of Ireland. Placed on leave 2002 after accusation that he abused a former parishioner, her son and daughter in 1978 at parish in Old Bridge. Other accusations also made. Included in 1/03 settlement claiming abuse by 5 priests. He denied all allegations. In 3/09 church trial found him guilty of 1 count of abuse 1980-83; permanently removed from public ministry. On 7/27/14, diocese announced that that Appeals Court had found him guilty of "ongoing sexual abuse" of two minor children in the early 1980s. Dismissed from the priesthood, per 7/21/14 letter from Bishop. On diocese's list 2/13/19.

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Fr. Raymond L. Cole

Ordained: 1972
Status: Cleared

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Pastor of St. Joseph's in Hillsborough, NJ. Removal from active ministry announced 10/25/13 after allegation of abuse of a minor in late the 1970s, when he was associate pastor at St. Mary's in South Amboy. County prosecutor informed the diocese; no criminal charges due to statute of limitations. Review Board and retired investigator found allegation "not frivolous." Cole denied the allegation. Matter referred to Vatican. 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

Settlement in 1991 with a woman who claimed sex abuse by Dolak 1979-87, beginning when she was age 13 and an Our Lady of Peace school student and parishioner in Fords, NJ, where Dolak was assigned. Accused of abusing a boy at an unspecified date. Claims against him were included in a 1/03 settlement between the diocese and victims of 5 priests. The diocese reportedly said three people had come forward with claims against Dolak. Went on to work as an acute care family support specialist at Monmouth Medical Center. No longer there in 2/19. On diocese's list 2/13/19. Laicization announced in 4/19.

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Fr. Kevin P. Duggan

Ordained: 1987
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

In 11/13, Bishop told parishioners at St. James the Less that Duggan had been accused of sexually abusing a developmentally-challenged adult in the early 1990s at St. James Parish in Woodbridge. Initially removed in 4/13 when Diocese first learned of the allegation. Later sent to Guest House in MN for treatment of alcoholism. Adamantly denied allegations. Review Board found accuser to be credible. Privileges removed. Died 7/6/17. Lawsuit filed on behalf of the victim in 6/19. The diocese offered a settlement in 7/20.

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Fr. George A. Farrell

Ordained: 1996
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Prior to 1996 ordination, Farrell was a Brother of Charity for 12 years. Placed on leave in 5/03 and sent to a "supervised living facility" after he was accused of an "isolated incident" of "inappropriate communication" over the Internet with a minor in 1997. Police and Division of Youth and Family Services investigated. No criminal charges filed. Returned to ministry in 10/04. Still active as of 3/13 at St. Joseph in North Plainfield, NJ.

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Fr. Thomas P. Ganley

Ordained: 1985
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Charged in 1/2019 with sexual assault of 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. Pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a minor under age 16 in exchange for a sentence of four years in state prison. Required to register as a sex offender. On the diocese's list 2/13/2019. Accused in a 12/2019 lawsuit of abusing a teenage boy, along with Rev. Robert Witkowski, at a parish in Iselin 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's Church in North Plainfield early in 5/07. He attributed his retirement to the pressures of running a parish and allegations of sexual misconduct. The diocese apparently investigated at the time and no action was taken. He denied all allegations and stated that the "allegations were handled properly according to both civil and canon law." On the diocese's list 2/13/19. It notes that he was removed.

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Fr. John Huels

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1976
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Accused in 1994 of abuse in 1970s of a 15-year-old boy in New Jersey. Admitted the abuse. A second victim came forward. Forced to step down as head of the Chicago-based Servites. Went to Africa for a few years. Hired 1997 by St. Paul University in Ottawa, ON, Canada. By 2002 he was still a priest and 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 8/02 after allegation surfaced. Ottawa archbishop said Huels was leaving Servites and would seek laicization. In 9/18 he was still 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: 04/30/1998
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 2/13/19. Multiple allegations, per the list in 2022. Died in 1998.

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Fr. Patrick J. Kuffner

Ordained: 2002
Status: Charged

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Suspended from ministry in 2/18. Accused by three people of sexually abusing them as minors when Kuffner was a teacher at Sacred Heart School on Staten Island around 1983, prior to ordination. Taught for 30 years in Staten Island Catholic school system. Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Virgin in Middlesex Borough when suspended. Law enforcement investigating in 2/18. On diocese's list 2/13/19. Charged in 11/19 with sexual assault of a minor between ages 13-16. The abuse allegedly took place in Springfield, MA. Pled not guilty 12/12/19.

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Fr. Gregory J. Littleton

Ordained: 1990
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Per Metuchen bishop, Littleton gave info to diocese in 1993 that implicated him in sexual abuse of 2 minors. Removed and sent for evaluation and 3 years' therapy. Allowed to return on limited basis; returned in 1997 to full time ministry. Transferred in 1997 to Charlotte diocese, which was told of his past. In 10/02 allegations were reported to Metuchen and passed to Charlotte. Not removed by Charlotte until 2/04 when allegations deemed credible. Per news in 8/18, Littleton claimed he was a victim of sexual misconduct by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Littleton was included on the Metuchen diocese's list 2/13/19. On the Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/19.

Assignments:

Diocese of Charlotte Assignment Record 12.29.19

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Fr. Michael McGuire

Ordained: 1958
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Named publicly in 11/21 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: 06/28/2002
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 9/20 of sexually abusing a boy, ages 13-14, in about 1994-95. 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 1981-82, while assigned to St. Joseph's High. Moccia died 6/28/02.

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Deacon Dann Rossi

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1982
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Deacon. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 2/13/19. 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 12/19 of sexually abusing a boy, ages 11-14, at Our Lay of Mount Carmel in New Brunswick, 1979-82.

Assignments:

BishopAccountability.org Assignment Record

Sources:

North Jersey Record 12.01.19

Fr. Michael P. Santillo

Ordained: 1975
Status: Convicted

Died: 05/10/2000
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Left active priesthood in 1992 to care for his parents. Charged in 5/97 with molesting a 13-year-old boy in 1987. Working at time of arrest in non-priest role at church in the Albany, NY diocese. Convicted in 1999. Three additional known victims. Sentenced to ten years. Died of cancer in prison in 2000. Three claims included in 1/03 diocesan settlement involving abuse by five priests. Accused in a lawsuit in 12/20 of grooming then sexually abusing a boy during 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 2/16 with possessing and viewing child pornography on his computer. Released on bail. Was to return to his home in RI.

Sources:

New Jersey website 02.18.16
SNAP 02.18.16

Fr. Tomasz Adam Zielinski

Donate Photo

Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

From Poland. Had been working at Christ King Church in Manville since 4/08. In 7/08 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 10/1/08. Sentenced to one year in federal prison in 1/09. Released in 1/10.

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