NEW JERSEY
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07/12/05
By CHAD WEIHRAUCH
GANNETT NEW JERSEY
The pastor at a Roman Catholic church in North Plainfield has been removed after an accusation he sexually abused a minor nearly two decades ago while serving at a parish in New Brunswick.
No criminal charges have been filed against the Rev. John Casey, 47, who has been at St. Joseph R.C. Church in North Plainfield since 1991. The allegation arose from a period 18 years ago, when Casey worked as the parochial vicar at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in New Brunswick.
According to the Diocese of Metuchen, authorities recently investigated the sex-abuse claim against Casey but concluded the statute of limitations had run out, meaning no criminal case could proceed.
Still, the church indicated a probe had found there may be some substance to the accusation, leading to his removal.
Casey is the 19th priest to be involved in a sexual-abuse allegation since the diocese was established in 1981.