A New Jersey priest associated with the Diocese of Metuchen was arrested in late November 2019 over allegations that the Catholic clergy member assaulted several minors in the 1980s.

Diocese of Metuchen Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse

According to App.com, on Feb. 25, 2019, the Diocese of Metuchen posted a letter informing congregants of the allegations against Patrick Kuffner, a pastor at Our Lady of Mount Virgin in New Jersey.

The letter stated that Kuffner had been accused of sexual abuse by three people when they were minors. According to the Diocese of Metuchen, these alleged assaults took place several decades ago, before Kuffner was ordained and affiliated with the diocese. After being informed of the allegations against Kuffner, the Diocese of Metuchen reported these claims to the authorities and placed Kuffner on a leave of absence.

According to the statement released regarding Kuffner, diocesan officials reviewed their records after hearing of the allegations against the pastor in an attempt to determine whether any evidence of abuse existed in his background check or file. “There was nothing whatsoever in the background checks…to suggest he could be capable of such horrendous actions. There has never been any indication of these types of actions during his time as a priest either,” noted the statement

Diocese of Metuchen Reviews Decades of Abuse Allegations

In 2002, the Diocese of Metuchen reviewed all clergy files in order to assess whether there was any information regarding sexual abuse allegations that had been covered up or buried. According to the diocese, all allegations that were uncovered were turned over to the authorities. Many of the cases uncovered in the files included incidents alleged to have occurred as far back as the 1960s.

As a result of these findings, the Diocese of Metuchen claims to have changed its policies, and now requires background checks and child protection training for everyone associated with the church who works or volunteers with children. Additionally, zero-tolerance policies have been implemented.

The diocese also formed a review board consisting of nine members including one survivor of clerical sexual abuse, in order to review new allegations immediately after they are filed.

In early 2019, another review of the diocese’s files was conducted by an outside law firm, and a list of priests and other clergy members deemed to have been “credibly accused” was released to the public. This list was posted on the Diocese of Metuchen’s website and includes eleven clergy members, including five who are deceased.

Anthony P. Kearns III, spokesperson and chancellor for the Diocese of Metuchen, spoke about the allegations against Kuffner, as well as offering support for other victims of clergy members associated with the diocese. “First and foremost, our prayers are with the person who came forward last year with these allegations, after many years of carrying this burden, and all those who are survivors of sexual abuse.”

Victims of childhood sexual abuse by priests or clergy members associated with the Diocese of Metuchen may be eligible to hire a qualified attorney to represent them in a lawsuit against the church. The diocese has paid out around $1.5 million in settlements to 21 survivors of sexual abuse since 1981.

Victims of the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal who file lawsuits against their dioceses may be able to recover damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses for psychological counseling and other needs, and punitive damages.

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