Paterson Diocese faces sex abuse civil suit filed by 21 men

Published: 2004-01-14

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (CNS) -- The Diocese of Paterson faces a civil suit by 21 men, including 19 who claim that ex-priest James T. Hanley sexually abused them as children. Kenneth Mullaney, diocesan attorney, said the diocese "intends to vigorously defend the suit." Included among the plaintiffs are the wives of five of the 21 men who claim that the trauma of the childhood abuse has affected their marital relations with their husbands. Hanley, 66, is not named in the suit and the lawyer for the accusers said the ex-priest is cooperating with the plaintiffs. The suit was filed Jan. 12 in the state Superior Court in Morristown and seeks an undisclosed financial settlement and unspecified nonmonetary actions by the diocese. Hanley was removed from parish ministry in 1986 after allegations surfaced and was laicized in March 2003 at his request. Named in the suit are the diocese, Paterson Bishop Frank J. Rodimer, three parishes where Hanley was stationed and three priests who served in parishes with Hanley. The suit says the three priests allegedly knew of the abuse or should have known about it but failed to act. Two of the priests are dead and another has left the priesthood.

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