It is with profound sadness that we report to our community the following:
On March 17, 2019, the Diocese of Trenton received an allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor against Rev. Msgr. Gregory D. Vaughan, who has served as pastor of St. Catharine Parish in Holmdel since 2013. The alleged abuse dates back to the late 1970s and early 1980s when Msgr. Vaughan was a parochial vicar in St. Ann Parish, Keansburg. In the interest of protecting the victim’s privacy, the Diocese will not disclose further details of the alleged abuse. This is the first and only allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against Msgr. Vaughan reported to the Diocese.
Upon receiving this allegation, the Diocese immediately reported it to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Following our own interviews with the victim, the Diocese has determined that the allegation is credible. Msgr. Vaughan has denied the allegation.
As a result of finding the allegation credible,
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., removed Msgr. Vaughan from ministry, effective immediately. The allegation will also be reported to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome.
Since his ordination in 1972, Msgr. Vaughan has served his priestly ministry exclusively in the Diocese of Trenton, with assignments in the following parishes: St. Ann; Keansburg; St. Charles Borromeo, Cinnaminson; St. Mary, Middletown; St. Raphael, Hamilton, and St. Catharine, Holmdel. Additionally, Msgr. Vaughan formerly served the Diocese as vicar for Catholic education; chancellor; vicar general; moderator of the curia, and director of vocations. This notice will be reported in all parishes where Msgr. Vaughan had served over the years.
We ask the faithful of the Diocese to remember in prayer all those impacted by this alleged abuse, and all victims who have been harmed as children by abuse of any kind.
The Diocese encourages anyone who has been sexually abused as a minor by a representative of the Church to report the abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agency, and to the Diocese through its abuse hotline:
1-888-296-2965 or via email at
[email protected].