NJ To Probe Church Sex Abuse Claims After Bombshell PA Report

Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced Thursday that state officials are forming a task force to investigate allegations of sexual abuse by members of the clergy within the Catholic dioceses of New Jersey, as well as any efforts to cover up such abuse.

Grewal appointed former Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino to head the task force. Laurino will oversee a team of detectives and prosecutors from across the state’s County Prosecutor’s Offices and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and will report directly to DCJ Director Veronica Allende. In addition, Grewal has authorized the task force to present evidence to a state grand jury, including the use of subpoenas to compel testimony and the production of documents.

To help identify potential victims, Grewal also established a new, dedicated hotline to report allegations of sexual abuse by members of the clergy. The hotline will be staffed by trained professionals and operate on a 24/7 basis. The toll-free number is 855-363-6548.

More information about the task force is available at www.nj.gov/oag/clergy-abuse.

Thursday’s announcement follows the recent publication of a report by a Pennsylvania grand jury alleging more than 1,000 victims of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in that state over a 70-year period. The report, which was the result of a multi-year investigation led by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, also detailed allegations of a cover-up by church leaders and accusations of sexual abuse against at least four priests who spent part of their ministries in New Jersey.

• See related article: 6 Disturbing Details From PA Catholic Priest Sex Abuse Report
• See related article: 300 PA Priests Sexually Abused 1,000 Children: Grand Jury

“I was deeply troubled to read the allegations contained in last month’s Pennsylvania grand jury report,” Grewal said. “The report revealed that sexual assaults on children – and efforts to cover up such assaults – were far more widespread in Pennsylvania than we ever thought possible. We owe it to the people of New Jersey to find out whether the same thing happened here. If it did, we will take action against those responsible.”

“No person is above the law and no institution is immune from accountability,” Grewal continued. “We will devote whatever resources are necessary to uncover the truth and bring justice to victims. I commend Attorney General Josh Shapiro for his investigation in Pennsylvania, and we will work to ensure that our investigation in New Jersey is done professionally and thoroughly.”

“I am extremely honored that the Attorney General would ask me to take on such an extraordinarily important investigation,” said Laurino. “Having been a special victims prosecutor for most of my professional career, I am prepared to do everything possible to give a voice to those who were abused. I hope that we will finally be able to give these individuals some degree of closure in their lives.”

According to Grewal, in addition to investigating allegations of sexual abuse by clergy, the task force will conduct a comprehensive review of existing agreements between the Catholic dioceses of New Jersey and state law enforcement.

Grewal stated:

“In 2002, each of the state’s dioceses entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Attorney General’s Office and various County Prosecutors’ Offices. These MOUs mandated that the dioceses establish policies and procedures to ensure that their leaders and employees report information to prosecutors about potential cases of sexual abuse within their churches and cooperate in any resulting law enforcement investigations. As part of the efforts announced today, the task force will determine whether the dioceses complied with the MOUs’ mandatory reporting requirements and whether any additional action is necessary.”

DCJ Director Veronica Allende said that officials want victims to know that they stand ready to investigate their cases and will do everything in their power to "bring those responsible for these crimes to justice."

“The key is obtaining adequate evidence, and we urge anyone with information about sexual abuse by members of the clergy to contact us confidentially through our new hotline,” Allende said.

Grewal lauded Laurino’s qualifications, which include:

• Member of the Essex County Prosecutors Office since 1980
• Served as Acting Prosecutor from June 2017 until this month, and previously served as Acting Prosecutor from January 2010 to February 2011
• Completed over 100 jury trials and has handled thousands of cases involving sexual violence
• Served as a faculty member for the National District Attorneys Association, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Advocacy Institute, the New York Prosecutors Training Institute, and AEquitas: The Prosecutors’ Resource on Violence Against Women, where he has taught trial advocacy courses on matters concerning sexual assault, ethics, and DNA evidence.
• Cum laude graduate of Villanova University, received a master’s degree from Rutgers University, graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law

The New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault said that the task force is a step in the right direction.

“Over the last few years, New Jersey has taken strides to create better, more affirming systems for survivors,” Executive Director Patricia Teffenhart said. “Today’s action strongly complements that. Hearing that Essex County Acting Prosecutor Robert Laurino is leading this task force gives us confidence that survivors’ voices will be heard and truth will prevail.”

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