Sexual Assault in the Catholic Church
Throughout the world, the Catholic Church has lost much credibility and has developed a tarnished reputation as a result of numerous accusations and publicity concerning the molestation of young parish minors. And now, the Catholic Church of New Jersey as well as several other states is dealing with more scandal surrounding the identification of Catholic clergymen who have been accused of sexually abusing minors. Names were released by the Dioceses of Trenton, Camden, Metuchen and Paterson as well as the Archdiocese of Newark, and the accusations, which church officials believe to be credible, date back to 1940.
Criminal Investigation Task Force
After a Pennsylvania grand jury report that identified 300 predatory priests in that state, the New Jersey State Attorney General, Gurbir Grewal, initiated a task force last fall to investigate sexual abuse by members of the clergy. Grewal said that he hoped to get cooperation during the investigation as he and his staff request various records and needed information to uncover the abuse. So far, it has been revealed that some of the priests have been previously convicted of sexual abuse with a minor, while others have already been removed from the clergy and others are deceased. Some also never had charges filed even though they were accused because the statute of limitations had expired. To help other possible witnesses or those with knowledge of the sexual abuse of minors within the church, a toll-free hotline was also created in September for the purpose of reporting predators among the clergy.
A Positive Step Toward Accountability
Attorney General Grewal stated that he believes the task force investigation is a "positive step toward accountability.” Some church officials have also expressed deep regret about the discoveries and are eager to work toward healing and reconciliation, and some are also surprised and deeply disappointed in the numbers and geographic spread of the findings. For example, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, stated that he hopes this investigation and its disclosures will "help bring healing to those whose lives have been so deeply violated." Tobin also emphasized that "we must protect our children first, foremost, and always." However, what is most important is that the truth comes out, meaning that those that have committed crimes are prosecuted and those that aren’t have their name cleared. That is exactly what our criminal defense legal team can do for you.
Contact an Experienced Hamilton Township Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Sexual Assault Charges in New Jersey
Were you arrested or charged with sexual assault in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The attorneys at Davis Law Firm, LLC have successfully represented clients charged with a sex crime in Trenton, Ewing, Lawrence, or Princeton, and throughout New Jersey. Call 609-587-9100 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 2653 Nottingham Way, Hamilton, New Jersey, 08619.The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
