Two more NJ predators are “outed”
Two more NJ predators are “outed”
Both are Catholic clerics from elsewhere
One sexually abused a girl in Los Angeles
The other molested in both Texas and Illinois
Neither priest has ever gotten attention in NJ
New records showed a third predator was in Newark
SNAP wants help from a parish, a school & three bishops
WHAT
Holdings signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will disclose the names of two credibly accused child molesting clerics who worked in New Jersey, abused elsewhere and have never been “outed” here. They will also give more specifics about a third predator priest who was “outed” in New Jersey just last week.
The three worked in Perth Amboy, Jersey City, Newark, Garfield, Rumson, Summit and Englewood.
The victims will also announce that they’re writing to a parish, a school and three prelates - Newark’s archbishop, Trenton’s bishop and Metuchen’s bishop - urging all of them to “do aggressive outreach” to find other victims of the clerics
WHEN
Friday, August 9 at 1:00 p.m.
WHERE
Outside the Newark Catholic Archdiocese headquarters, 171 Clifton Ave. in Newark, NJ
WHO
Two-three members of an international support group called SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), including the organization’s long time New Jersey director
WHY
SNAP has learned recently about three credibly accused child molesting clerics who were in New Jersey. All molested kids elsewhere. Two have attracted no public attention in New Jersey. One was exposed as having lived and worked in New Jersey just last week.
The two being “outed” today by SNAP are Fr. Eusebio Pantoja and Fr. Rubin V. Abaya. Both worked at parishes in Perth Amboy. The one “outed” last week is Fr. Joseph B. DiPeri, who worked in five New Jersey cities.
SNAP believes Catholic officials in at least three dioceses have a duty to aggressively use church bulletins, parish websites and diocesan newspapers to warn families about the clerics and reach out to others who have seen, suspected or suffered their crimes.
More details about the three clerics:
1 - In 1971, Pantoja worked at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Perth Amboy.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news/2003_10_09_Falsani_PriestWho.htm
According to BishopAccountability.org, Fr. Pantoja was ordained in Mexico. In 2003, he was sued for allegedly abusing a 14 year old in the 1970s in Chicago. (The victim was represented by Minnesota attorney Jeff Anderson 651 227 9990, [email protected]). After leaving in Chicago, Pantoja worked in New Jersey and Texas and then spent nearly a decade working as priest in Mexico. He was put on leave in 2003. Pantoja belongs to a religious order called the Claretians.
2 - In 1984, Abaya worked in Perth Amboy, though it’s not clear where exactly he was assigned. (He was among seven priests who sexually abused a California girl.) Abaya is a diocesan priest and is originally from the Philippines. According to the 1980 Official Catholic Directory, Abaya also worked at Holy Cross parish in Rumson NJ.
3 - A Los Angeles newspaper last week reported that “the last known information indicates (DiPeri) was in a retirement home for priests in New Jersey.” He worked “at churches in Jersey City, Newark and Garfield and was a teacher at Oratory Preparatory School in Summit and a principal at St. Cecilia’s School in Englewood,” according to the Star Ledger (which disclosed DiPeri’s presence in New Jersey just last week).
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2013/07_08/2013_07_31_Abram_MoreChurch.htm
Last week, long-secret records about child molesting California clerics were released in Los Angeles. Those documents revealed .Fr. DiPeri’s presence in New Jersey. DiPeri belonged to a religious order called the Marianists. (He died in 2007.)
http://www.snapnetwork.org/nj_child_molesting_cleric_from_ca_is_now_in_nj
SNAP does not know the current whereabouts of either Pantoja or Abaya (tho it seems Abaya now works for the church in the Philippines. A photo of Abaya is available at http://s334.photobucket.com/user/dioceseoflaoag/media/rubenabaya.jpg.html
Englewood, Garfield, Summit and Jersey City are in the Newark archdiocese. Perth Amboy is in the Metuchen diocese. Rumson is in the Trenton diocese.
CONTACT
Mark Crawford (732-632-7687, [email protected]), David Clohessy (314-566-9790 [email protected])
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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