NJ Priest Sexually Abused Student More Than 100 Times: Reports

A priest who taught at a New Jersey high school is accused of sexually abusing a student more than 100 times, according to reports.

The lawsuit, which was filed Feb. 7 in Superior Court in Bergen County, accuses former priest Sean Rooney of abusing a student, beginning when the victim was 13 years old, at the now-closed Don Bosco Technical High School, according to WCBS 880 radio. He also commited the act at several other locations from 1973 to 1975, according to the report.

The victim is currently a Florida resident and is identified only by his initials in the suit, according to the report. Rooney is not on the list of 188 "credibly accused" priests and deacons involving children released in 2019 by New Jersey’s Catholic dioceses, according to the report.

The student accused Rooney of "grooming him and giving him special treatment” soon after he enrolled at the school, according to NJ Advance Media. Rooney, a chemistry teacher at the school, gave the student alcohol and showed him pornography, accoding to the report.

“Shortly after their first meeting, Father Rooney began sexually assaulting and abusing (him),” accoridng to the report, which is quoting the suit. “Plaintiff estimates that he was abused by Father Rooney in excess of 100 times."

Nearly 200 names on a list of sex offenders in the clergy were also named by the Catholic church last year. Here is the list released by the Catholic church in February 2019: Here's List Of NJ Priests Accused Of Child Sexual Abuse (UPDATED)

In April 2019, 52 Boy Scout leaders who worked in New Jersey and were accused of sexual abuse were named by attorneys who represent victims. Read more: 52 NJ Boy Scout Leaders Accused Of Sexual Abuse Named

Then, in May 2019, the names of more than 100 additional priests and members of the clergy were also released in a new disclosure. Read more: Another 100 NJ Priests, Clergy Accused Of Sex Abuse In Disclosure

Earlier this month, the journalism site ProPublica, a Patch Partner, compiled the most comprehensive list so far of Catholic clergy "credibly accused" of sexual abuse. The list includes many accused abusers from New Jersey. Read more: Full List Released Of NJ Catholic Clergy Accused Of Sex Assault