A former New Jersey parish priest already under investigation for alleged child sexual abuse has been accused by a second man of assaulting him in the 1970s.

Brooklyn Bishop DiMarzio Faces Additional Abuse Allegations

In late 2019, a Roman Catholic bishop who had been appointed by the church to investigate claims of sexual abuse perpetrated by members of the Catholic clergy was accused by a former altar boy of abusing him in the 1970s. Now, DiMarzio faces additional accusations made by a second former parishioner.

According to plaintiff Samier T., Bishop DiMarzio repeatedly abused him during the bishop’s time at Holy Rosary Church in Jersey City. Samier claims that he was around 6 years old when the abuse started. The accusations against the bishop were listed in a letter sent by Samier’s attorney to the attorney representing the Archdiocese of Newark in March 2020. These newest claims are similar to the initial claims made against the bishop by alleged victim Mark M. in 2019.

According to the original accusations made by Mark, DiMarzio sexually abused him from approximately 1974 to 1975 when Mark was 11 and 12 years old. At the time, the bishop was assigned to St. Nicholas Church in Jersey City, where Mark was an altar boy.

Although Bishop DiMarzio has denied the accusations made by both men, he is expected to be investigated. Under new procedures for investigating claims of abuse issued by Pope Francis in 2019, DiMarzio’s case will be investigated by the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan. However, some victim advocates have called for an independent investigation, citing the cardinal’s friendship with the bishop as a conflict of interest.

New Jersey Updates Child Sex Abuse Laws

Although both accusations against Bishop DiMarzio involve instances of alleged abuse that took place several decades ago, the accusers were able to file their lawsuits against the bishop and the Catholic Church under New Jersey’s recently updated child sex abuse laws.

In addition to updates to the state’s statutes of limitations that now allow victims of childhood abuse to file civil suits until the age of 55 or for seven years after realizing that the abuse harmed them, a look-back window was also instituted. This two-year period began on Dec. 1, 2019, and will allow victims whose cases have already expired to reopen them and file lawsuits against their abusers, as well as individual Catholic dioceses.

Although several individual dioceses have instituted victim compensation funds that victims of childhood abuse perpetrated by Catholic clergy members can apply for, filing a lawsuit under this look-back window may be the best way for victims to receive compensation for emotional distress and justice.

While applying for a settlement from a victim compensation fund may be an easier and faster way for victims who do not want to undergo a legal trial to receive compensation, victims who accept these settlements are barred from pursuing further legal action in the future. In some cases, they may also be restricted from even talking about their experiences or abuse. Additionally, these financial settlements are often much smaller than what victims may be able to recover through a lawsuit.

If you were sexually abused by a member of the New Jersey Catholic clergy as a child, you may be eligible to speak with an experienced attorney about your legal options. Victims who pursue litigation against the church or their abusers may be able to recover compensation for their experiences, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.