7 Priests With Ties To Ocean City Named On Church Sex Abuse List

Church leaders in the Diocese of Camden released a list of 56 priests "credibly accused" of child sex abuse Wednesday, seven of whom have ties to Ocean City. Information on where each incident occurred, and whether any happened in Ocean City, 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.

According to the Camden Diocese, priests with Ocean City connections include:

• Claude J. Bender: Born in 1932, ordained in 1965. Served at Our Lady of Good Counsel. He has deceased.
• Joseph J. Brennan: Born in 1914, ordained in 1944. Served at St. Augustine. He has deceased.
• Michael H. D'Amico: Born in 1939, ordained in 1964. Served at St. Augustine and St. Francis Cabrini. He has deceased.
• A. William Johnson: Born in 1936, ordained in 1962. Served at St. Augustine. He left the diocese in 1967, and his current whereabouts are unknown.
• Francis L. Salamandra: Born in 1931, ordained in 1961. Served at O.L. of Good Counsel. He was removed from the ministry.
• Augustine J. Seidenburg: Born in 1922, ordained in 1948. Served at St. Augustine. He has deceased.
• Antoine St. Germain: Born in 1945, ordained in 1976. Served at St. Augustine. 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."

Read More: List Of 186 NJ Priests Accused Of Child Sexual Abuse (UPDATED)

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