10 Priests With NJ Ties On New List Accusing Them Of Sex Abuse

Ten priests with New Jersey ties are on newly released list of Jesuits that accuses them of sexually abusing minors over the past 6 decades.

Six of the 10 priests are still alive. Those who survive have been removed from the ministry, though the removals came years after they were allegedly abusing children, according to the USA Northeast Province Jesuits, which represents Roman Catholic priests in New Jersey and elsewhere.

In several cases, the priests admitted to it, and one was actually convicted of sexual abuse, accoding to the list (see list below).

The Jesuits said they released the list on Tuesday with hope of helping people heal "from the pain and anger caused by clergy sex abuse and the lack of accountability and transparency on the part of church leadership."

Read more: NJ Priests Accused Of Sex Abuse To Be Named: Here Are 9 We Know

John J. Cecero of the USA Northeast Province said the list tracks credible allegations of abuse against a minor or vulnerable adult since 1950. At the heart of this crisis, he said, is "the painful, sinful and illegal harm done to children by those whom they should have been able to trust."

Cecero apologized for the priests' actions, though he did say the church "did not know any best practices to handle these violations many decades ago and regrettably made mistakes along the way."

What winds up, he said, is "a very shameful history for the church at large" made clear by investigative reporting in Boston in 2002.

"On behalf of all of the Jesuits of the USA Northeast Province, I apologize for any of our brothers who have committed crimes of abuse and pledge to work to provide safe environments for all to whom we minister and to offer support and possibilities for healing to victims," he said.

"I urge anyone who has experienced abuse by a Jesuit to contact Kristin Austin, our Victim Assistance Coordinator at 443-370-6357 or UNEadvocacy@jesuits.org. She will offer both compassion and confidentiality."

Here is the list of priests with New Jersey ties:

• Cornelius Carr: Carr, who died in 2013, served at St. Peter's Prep education in Jersey City from 1954 to 1959. He was accused abusing minors from 1989 to 1990. A report was issued in 2005.
• Thomas Denny: Denny, who was removed in 2002, served at St. Peter's Prep in from 1986 to 1992 and from 1995 to 1997. He was accused of abusing minors in the 1960s and 1970s and a report was issued in 2002 and 2012.
• Andrew Dittrich: Dittrich, who died in 1990, served at Rutgers University in New Bruswick from 1970 to 1977 and Rider College in Lawrenceville from 1977 to 1989. He was accused of abusing minors from 1966-1976 and reports were made in 2002 and 2018.
• Joseph Fitzpatrick: Fitzpatrick, who was removed in 2002, served at St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City from 1967 to 1969. He was accused of abusing minors in the 1980s and a report was made in 1999.
• Raymond Fullam: Fullam, who died in 1987, served at St. Peter’s Church in Jersey City from 1964 to 1965. He was accused of abusing minors in 1954 and 1965. A report was made in 2009.
• James Gould: Gould, who was removed in 2012, served at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City from 1969 to 1971. He was accused of abusing a minor from 1977 to 1978, and admitted to it. A report was made in 2011.
• James Kuntz: Kuntz, who left the Jesuits in 2012, served at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City from 1984 to 1988 and at St. Peter’s University from 2004 to 2007. He pleaded guilty to child pornography in 2008.
• Eugene O’Brien: O’Brien, who was removed in 2012, served at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City from 1959 to 1960. He was accused of abusing minors in the 1960s, and he admitted to it. A report was made in 1993.
• Anthony Paone: Paone, who died in 1990, served at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City from 1939 to 1942. He was accused of abusing a minor in 1953 and a report was made in 2002.
• William Scanlon: Scanlon, who was removed in 2011, served at St. Peter’s University in Jersey City from 1974 to 1976. He was accused of abusing minors from 1985 to 1994. A report was made in 1994.

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