New Jersey Catholic Bishop says diocese will no longer object to investigating allegations of abuse

Camden, N.J. (AP) – The Catholic bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey said he would no longer object to the state grand jury’s investigation into sexual abuse of clergy, and the church has been working behind closed doors in court for years.

Camden Bishop Joseph Williams, who took over the diocese in March, told Philadelphia Enquirers on Monday that the diocese no longer wanted to stop the attorney general's office from placing a grand jury in investigating allegations of sexual abuse by pastors and other religious officials.

Williams told the newspaper that it is important to help people who are hurt by the church and that he does not want to stop their voices from being heard.

“Our people need to hear that, clergy need to hear that, so that first of all, it won’t happen again,” Williams said.

News of seeking comments on Tuesday was left to the parish.

The change comes a week after the parish lawyers argued in the state Supreme Court that prosecutors did not use a grand jury to investigate the mandate of private church officials under court regulations. Instead, lawyers believe that the rule requires a grand jury gift to address public officials and governments.

The High Court has not yet expressed an opinion on the argument. It is unclear how the bishop’s new position will affect their ruling.

The state attorney general's office said in an emailed statement Tuesday that it welcomed “introspection that creates such a shift in the Camden position.”

The statement noted that the prosecutor was still subject to a lower court order that blocked the investigation.

Cyber ​​State Governor Mark Crawford, who is survivor of the priest abuser, said in a text message Tuesday that the change was “long overdue.”

“We are cautiously optimistic because it is undoubtedly the right thing and for the right reason,” he said. “This should have happened a long time ago and it is encouraging to see Bishop Williams take another approach.”

The issue dates back to a 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury report that found that more than 1,000 children have been abused in the state since the 1940s, prompting the New Jersey Attorney General to announce a similar investigation.

However, the results of the New Jersey enquiry were never made public, as a legal battle in the Camden Parish was unfolding behind closed doors in a closed lawsuit.

Then, this year, Bergen's record was obtained, which disclosed the trial court's verdict in the favor of the parish and revealed the parish's objection to the grand jury. In March, the Supreme Court ordered more documents without sealing.

The core disagreement is whether court rules allow a grand jury in New Jersey to issue findings in cases involving private individuals. Court of trial and appeals found for the parish.

In oral debate, the Supreme Court sometimes expressed doubts about the parish's status at the time, that the investigation of the grand jury would constitute a condemnation of the church and its officials.

“We don't know what the grand jury will say, right?” Judge Anne Patterson asked at the time.