Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has garnered headlines in New Jersey and around the country. Priests and other church officials are accused of abusing children, sometimes as long ago as the 1940s.

A recent report in New Jersey indicates that more victims are coming forward, saying they were abused as children by New Jersey priests in the Archdiocese of Newark and other New Jersey dioceses. NJ.com reports that 30 people have recently reported abuse by 28 New Jersey priests.

These alleged victims are also applying for financial settlements from the church. New Jersey’s five Catholic dioceses have created a fund that will compensate victims who were sexually abused by New Jersey church officials.

Sixteen of the 28 accused priests had already been accused by others, but 12 were new to the list. The allegations have not yet been deemed credible by the compensation fund’s administrators, and until then there will be no settlement offer. 

According to NJ.com, the Catholic Church says it’s cooperating with law enforcement and is encouraging victims to report abuse. The Archdiocese of Newark released a statement on its approach to dealing with the problem going forward, as well as compensating past victims.

The Archdiocese of Newark says it is “committed to the ongoing support and healing of victims and the acknowledgment of those accused of the sexual abuse of minors.” The Archdiocese goes on to say, “We continue to focus on transparency and accountability and to reinforce established reporting and prevention policies and programs to protect minors and support victims in our parishes, schools, and ministries.”

The move parallels efforts nationwide by the Church to hold itself accountable, according to The New York Times. 

The New Jersey Catholic Church has not reported how much the compensation fund will pay victims with valid claims. A similar fund in New York capped payouts at $500,000 for each victim., according to NJ.com. 

As the institution grapples with the crisis, New Jersey’s attorney general has launched a state investigation into sex abuse in the Catholic Church.

Additionally, changes to New Jersey law give victims new opportunities to pursue justice. Laws that will make it easier for victims to file lawsuits against alleged abusers, and the institutions with whom they are connected, go into effect on December 1.

According to WHYY News, New Jersey’s new laws will allow childhood victims of sexual abuse until age 55 to file a lawsuit against their alleged abuser(s), or seven years after they discover they were injured by abuse, whichever is later.  

However, victims who accept compensation through the compensation fund will not be eligible to file lawsuits against their abusers or the Church, as accepting compensation requires victims to waive their rights to file such a lawsuit.

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