Abusive Deacon in New Jersey Released from Prison
A deacon from New Jersey who was convicted and jailed in 2017 for sexually abusing a minor was released on May 5th , perhaps because of COVID-19. Now that this dangerous man is back on the streets we call on the Catholic officials who educated, trained, and ordained him to take extra steps to warn the community about him.
Deacon Joseph Prioli abused at least one child from the time she was 10 to 17 years old. During that time, he was also working as teacher at the Christian Brothers Academy and was a deacon at his local church, positions that would give him easy access to vulnerable children. Clearly, the courts believed that Deacon Prioli would continue to be a risk to children even after getting out of jail because his 2017 sentence prohibits him from living in a household with minor children for the rest of his life.
We are dismayed that this dangerous abuser has been released and hope that this move does not cause more pain or fear to those he has already hurt. But now that he has been released, parents must be extra vigilant and those church leaders who helped train and employ him should also help warn the community about him.
Officials at the Christian Brothers Academy in Middletown, NJ can help by sharing the information about Deacon Prioli with alumni and parents, warning the local community and urging any other victims or witnesses to come forward to police. The wider the information about his release is shared, the better protected New Jersey children will be.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected])
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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