On this past Thursday, the Attorney General of New Jersey, Gurbir Grewal, announced that he will establish a task force to investigate allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy in the five Dioceses of the State of New Jersey as well as any indications of cover-up by their bishops and leaders in the Catholic Church.
His decision follows on the heels of the release of a Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report investigating similar claims there over a seventy-year period and the revelations earlier this summer by the Archdioceses of New York and Newark of credible and substantiated allegations of such abuse by former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of a minor and several adult seminarians. All of these reported allegations are indefensible, revolting and horrific. They have done irreparable harm to their victims, their families and to the Church. Clergy and faithful alike have rightfully reacted with anger, outrage, disgust and disillusionment. It has profoundly shaken their faith and devastated the credibility of the Church’s leadership.
To read Bishop O’Connell’s statement in full, please click here. THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON is committed to the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and to its own policies and guidelines in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors.
If you have been sexually abused as a minor by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan
ABUSE HOTLINE: 1-888-296-2965 or via e-mail at
[email protected].
The Diocese of Trenton reports any allegations of sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Anyone with an allegation is also encouraged to provide that information to local law enforcement authorities.