NY Giants Chaplain Accused Of Sexual Abuse: Report

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The current chaplain of the New York Giants football team has been accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy back in the 1960s when he was serving as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Montclair, according to a report.

James Gilson, now 67, filed a lawsuit against William Dowd, claiming the priest molested him from 1967 to 1972, NJ.com reported. Gilson said he reported the alleged abuse to the Newark Archdiocese years later and the church investigated it.

At the time, Dowd was the pastor of St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church in Ho-Ho-Kus, but stepped down amidst the allegations. Dowd was acquitted of the charges in 2007 and he returned to ministry, the paper reported.

He also started working again with the New York Giants, after first serving as the team’s chaplain back in the 1990s, NorthJersey.com reported. Dowd is currently listed as retired in the Archdiocese of Newark’s 2018-19 priest directory.

See More: Newark Archdiocese Hit With 2 Sex Abuse Lawsuits Under New State Law

When Gov. Phil Murphy signed S-477 into law in May, the hope from its supporters was that the legislation would give survivors of sexual abuse a chance to get legal justice, even though the statute of limitations might be up for their claims.

The law – which took effect on Dec. 1 – created a two-year window for victims to file lawsuits. Child sex abuse victims can sue until they turn 55, or within seven years of realizing the abuse that harmed them.