Catholic dioceses all across the country have been rocked by the ongoing child sexual abuse scandal as more survivors come forward with allegations of abuse by priests and other church leaders. The Camden diocese of New Jersey has been hit with four new lawsuits over child sex abuse allegedly committed by three now-deceased priests who had served in the diocese.

One of the accused, Rev. Kenneth L. Johnston, had been a principal at two Catholic high schools and served at a Camden County parish, along with three South Jersey parishes. Johnston served as the principal for St. James High from 1984 to 1989, and then at Gloucester Catholic until 1999.

Johnston died in 2018. The lawsuit against Johnston was the first time allegations had been brought against the man—his reputation had been spotless, and was described in his obituary in the Catholic Star Herald as a “kind, gentlemanly priest.” But according to the lawsuit, Johnston began sexually abusing a 10-year-old child while serving at St. Anthony’s Church in Atco, New Jersey in 1973–74.

Two separate lawsuits were filed over allegations against the Rev. Eldridge Evans, who had served as a teacher at St. James High. Evans’ name appears on the list of credibly accused priests compiled by the Camden diocese. According to the lawsuits, Evans abused two students while working at St. James High School in Carneys Point, Salem County, which closed back in 2000. According to the lawsuits, Evans sexually abused two children under his care at the high school—one in 1971 and one around 1975.

A third lawsuit was filed over allegations against Rev. Gerald P. Clements, a former teacher at Camden Catholic High School. Like Evans, Clements had been previously included on the Camden diocese list of clergy members credibly accused of sexual misconduct.

Clements allegedly sexually abused a child at the high school in 1977.

All three of the men now filing lawsuits against the Camden diocese over sexual misconduct by their high school teachers were approximately 17 years old at the time of the alleged abuse, according to the lawsuits.

Diocese Named in Lawsuit for Negligence

The lawsuits were filed not against the allegedly abusive priests (who are now deceased), but against the Camden diocese itself for negligence, alleging that the diocese “knew or should have known” that these clergy members were a threat to the youth in their care.

A spokesperson for the Camden diocese said it “had not received any complaint or allegation concerning any of these three priests…prior to or at the time specified in the respective lawsuits.”

These lawsuits were previously barred by the New Jersey statute of limitations, but a new state law, enacted in Dec. 2019, created a two-year lookback window for previously-barred child sex abuse allegations.

The Camden diocese, like many other dioceses across the country, created a victim compensation fund to award compensation to survivors of sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy. However, the Camden diocese has suspended its role in its own program—which had awarded $7.5 million to victims so far—because of “a precipitous decline in revenue resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Camden diocese spokesperson Michael Walsh said the plaintiff filing over alleged abuse by Johnston filed a claim with the diocese’s Independent Victim Compensation Program last year, but was denied by the program’s administrators.

If you are a survivor of childhood sex abuse by a Catholic priest or other Catholic leader—even if the abuse occurred years or even decades ago—you may be eligible to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and trauma caused by this kind of abuse, but it can at least help to provide monetary compensation, as well as hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

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