February 03, 2006

Watch wayward priest like a hawk

NEW JERSEY
NorthJersey.com

Friday, February 3, 2006

By JEFFREY PAGE
RECORD COLUMNIST

So here's this ex-priest who had his way with kids over the course of years. The story of priestly sex abuse of children never ends.

He was defrocked three years ago. He says he had his fun with 15 young boys during a 14-year stretch when he was the trusted Father in the turned collar. Or maybe it was 12 boys.

As it is, 23 men have accused him of molesting them when they were children.

Does the Diocese of Paterson have a responsibility to keep track of this man? It's thinking about it.

The Not Very Rev. James Hanley is an expensive millstone around the diocese's neck.

His adventures with boys cost the diocese nearly $5 million, paid out in settlements to most of his victims. One never got a dime; he killed himself three years ago.

Posted by kshaw at February 3, 2006 09:37 AM