A public statement made today by Jennifer Franz, the niece of the late Father Ronald R. Becker, has sought to call into question the Diocese of Trenton's handling of allegations of sexual abuse made against Father Becker. We strongly contest these assertions.

The Diocese became aware of Ms. Franz' allegations that she was abused by her uncle when we were contacted by investigators from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office just prior to his arrest in March of 2007. We cooperated fully in the Prosecutor's Office investigation, which subsequently led to Father Becker's indictment. Information provided to law enforcement by Ms. Franz in connection with that investigation showed that neither Ms. Franz, nor her immediate family were members of any parish in which Father Becker had ever served. She had further specified that the abuse against her took place in family homes between 1980 and 1983, long before any other allegations surfaced from other individuals about Father Becker.

Though these charges against her uncle are clearly a family problem having nothing to do with Father Becker’s priestly ministry or responsibilities, the Diocese nevertheless reached out to Ms. Franz as soon as we learned of the allegations with offers of assistance in order for her to begin the healing process. Ms. Franz had accepted our offer of counseling, and a financial settlement was reached through mediation in September 2009.

There have been credible allegations of misconduct made against Father Becker in connection with his role as a priest, which the Diocese has responded to swiftly and appropriately. These allegations were first made known to us in 1989, at which time Father Becker was removed from parish ministry and sent to a medical facility for treatment. Upon his release from that facility, Father Becker was never returned to parish ministry, but was given an administrative position in diocesan headquarters where he would have no interaction with children or youths. There have been no allegations of abuse by Father Becker since that time.

In 2002, in compliance with the U.S. Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the Diocese removed Father Becker's priestly faculties, requiring that he was barred from ministry, could not present himself as a priest, and was not permitted to wear priestly garb. Ronald Becker's name was turned over to the prosecutors' office and his name was publicly released in regard to these allegations. Father Becker died in 2009 before he was ever able to stand trial for the crimes alleged by his niece.

It is the policy and practice of the Diocese of Trenton to continuously reach out to anyone who has ever been sexually abused as a minor by a representative of the Catholic Church or knows someone who was. This outreach notice is posted to the diocesan website, is published regularly in the diocesan newspaper, The Monitor, and is printed in parish bulletins several times each year. Individuals can report abuse by calling Msgr. Joseph N. Rosie, diocesan chancellor, at (609) 406-7400, ext. 5510 or by contacting him at jrosie@dioceseoftrenton.org.