Crime & Safety

9 Priests With Galloway-Area Ties Named On Church Sex Abuse List

Church leaders released a list of priests "credibly accused" of child sex abuse. Five served at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon.

Church leaders in the Diocese of Camden released a list of 56 priests "credibly accused" of child sex abuse Wednesday, several of whom have ties to the Galloway area. Information on where each incident occurred was not included.

"As to the names on the attached list, it includes those who admitted to the abuse, those who were found guilty after a trial in the church courts or the civil courts, and others against whom the evidence was so overwhelming as to be virtually unquestionable," Reverent Dennis J. Sullivan, Bishop of Camden, wrote in the diocese's announcement.

Most of these incidents involved male teenagers and occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, Sullivan said. The list does not include four allegations from the 1960s and 1970s that were referred to the Diocesan Review Board for a determination of their credibility, Sullivan said.

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According to the Camden Diocese, priests with Galloway-area ties include:

  • John P. Bernard: Born in 1939, ordained in 1962. Served at Assumption (Pomona) and Chaplain Pomona Air Base. He was removed from ministry.
  • John F. Bloh: Born in 1931, ordained in 1964. Served at Holy Spirit High School (Absecon). He was removed from ministry.
  • Michael H. D'Amico: Born in 1939, ordained in 1964. Served at Holy Spirit High School (Absecon). He has deceased.
  • John E. Follett: Born in 1957, ordained in 1978. Served at Chaplain Air National Guard (Pomona). He has deceased.
  • Joseph Orsini: Born in 1937, ordained in 1964. Served at Assumption (Pomona). He has deceased.
  • Glendon E. Robertson: Born in 1927, ordained in 1957. Served at Holy Spirit High School (Absecon). He has deceased.
  • John E. Smith: Born in 1943, ordained in 1969. Served at Holy Spirit High School (Absecon). He has deceased.
  • Brendan V. Sullivan: Born in 1934, ordained in 1960. Served at Holy Sprit High School (Absecon) and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Absecon). He has deceased.
  • William D. Titmas: Served in 1934, ordained in 1963. Served at Assumption (Pomona). He has deceased.

"We know the release of these names may cause others who have been abused to come forward," Sullivan said. "With that in mind, the Dioceses of New Jersey encourage victims to register with the recently announced Independent Victims Compensation Program when that program is launched in the coming months."

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