2 Priests From Saint Francis Named On Sex Abuse List

METUCHEN, NJ — Two priests who have served at St. Francis of Assisi faced multiple credible sexual abuse allegations, the Diocese of Metuchen said.

John Casey and Mark Dolak were both among 11 priests and deacons named by the Diocese on Wednesday. Casey is deceased, and Dolak has been removed from the ministry. The Diocese did not say when the priests served at St. Francis.

According to news reports, Casey was removed from St Joseph's Church in July 2005 after he was accused of abusing a minor in the 1980s, The Star Ledger reported. He died three years later. Dolak settled claims he abused a parishioner while serving as the pastor at St. Matthias Church in Somerset. He did not admit any wrongdoing, and has since been removed from serving.

In addition to serving at the cathedral, Casey worked at St. Philip and St. James, Phillipsburg; St. Peter the Apostle, New Brunswick; and St. Joseph, North Plainfield. Dolak also served at Our Lady of Peace, Fords; St. Thomas the Apostle, Old Bridge; St. John the Evangelist, Dunellen; St. Matthias, Somerset; St. Catherine of Siena, Pittstown.

"Certainly, abuse at the hands of trusted people, in these cases those who are meant to be spiritual fathers, has done untold damage to those victimized. Abuse gets power from silence and avoidance. I believe that the measures we are now taking are part of the continuing process to build a healthy and transparent culture of life in our parishes and institutions," Bishop James F. Checchio said.

The Archdiocese of Newark and the Dioceses of Camden, Trenton, Paterson and Metuchen said they are committed to the establishment of a "Victim Compensation and Counseling Program."
This program will provide the resources to compensate those victims of child sexual abuse by clergy and employees of the Dioceses in New Jersey whose financial claims are legally barred by New Jersey's statute of limitations, according to the authorities.

Authorities said the program also will assure that victims who have not received any financial compensation will be paid, regardless of whether their claims meet the time requirements of the statute of limitations.

"While this is a positive first step towards transparency and accountability, I hope this spirit of openness continues during the course of our ongoing investigation and in response to our requests for records and information," Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said.
The Attorney General's Office urges survivors and others with information to contact its toll-free tip line, 855-363-6548, which is staffed by trained professionals on a 24/7 basis.

Image via Google Maps