Wednesday, December 04, 2019

Former Cardinal McCarrick and Newark Archdiocese Sued By Sex Abuse Victim

Just minutes after a new New Jersey law went into effect opening a 2-year window in which previously time-barred sex abuse cases can be filed, suit was filed in a New Jersey state trial court against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and the Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. The complaint (full text) in Bellocchio v. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, (NJ Super. Ct., filed 12/1/2019), states claims for sexual battery against McCarrick, and for negligence against the Archdiocese. It alleges in part:
31. In approximately 1995 or 1996, when Plaintiff was approximately 13 or 14 years old, McCarrick engaged in unpermitted sexual contact with Plaintiff.
32. McCarrick engaged in a similar course of conduct and pattern of sexual predation of devout Catholic youth under his control.
Washington Post and America report on the lawsuit.