Suit Accuses Priest of Sex Assault on Seminarian

By Jessica Masulli Reyes
The New Jersey Herald
December 1, 2013

http://www.njherald.com/story/24104140/2013/11/30/suit-accuses-priest-of-sex-assault-on-seminarian

STANHOPE — A Stanhope man, who was studying in a Connecticut seminary, claims he was sexually assaulted and “preyed upon” by his spiritual advisor and then stonewalled by the Diocese of Paterson when he tried to continue a path to priesthood.

In a civil lawsuit against the Diocese of Paterson, Joshua Cascio, 28, is alleging that his advisor, Father Addison (Tad) Hallock, at Holy Apostles College & Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., sexually assaulted him the day after Thanksgiving 2011.

The 10-count suit, filed last week in state Superior Court in Newton, details the alleged assault, as well as allegations that several top officials in the Diocese of Paterson and at the Holy Apostles College & Seminary are not allowing Cascio to return to the seminary. The lawsuit names Bishop Arthur Serratelli, who oversees the Catholic diocese covering Morris, Sussex and Passaic counties.

“Obviously, this has been his motivation throughout this whole thing, to become a priest, but the process is being denied to him,” Cascio’s Parsippany-based attorney, John O’Reilly, said.

The lawsuit, which is seeking compensation, alleges that soon after Cascio joined the seminary, his advisor began exhibiting inappropriate behavior. The suit says that Hallock, a vicar of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles and college faculty member, “preyed upon (Cascio’s) blind devotion

to his faith.”

The behaviors culminated in Hallock inviting Cascio to Long Island, N.Y., for a visit with Hallock’s family the day after Thanksgiving 2011. When Cascio arrived, he realized that the “family” Hallock referred to was only a 92-year-old aunt.

During the trip, Hallock, dressed only in his underwear, asked Cascio to pray with him before bed and then allegedly went into Cascio’s bedroom later that night to sexually assault him, the suit says.

The seminary and Hallock’s religious order did not return calls for comment. It is unclear what Hallock’s current status is or if any criminal charges were filed against him. In 2011, Hallock was celebrating his 35th anniversary of ordination, a newsletter said.

As the sexual harassment continued, Cascio reported Hallock to church officials, but when he returned to the seminary, he was shunned, causing him to have anxiety attacks and eventually take a two-week break, the suit says.

During that time, Cascio attended therapy and was given the OK to return to a different seminary, but when Cascio tried to do so, he received a runaround from the leadership in the Diocese of Paterson and was advised that a lawsuit would end his chances of being a priest, the suit says.

Richard Sokerka, a spokesman for the Diocese of Paterson, said that the diocese has not yet seen the lawsuit and therefore could not comment.

According to the lawsuit:

• In late August 2011, Cascio began studying at the Holy Apostles College & Seminary to become a priest. His expenses and health insurance were covered by the Diocese of Paterson.

At the seminary, Cascio was provided with 10 names of people he could choose to be his spiritual advisor. He chose Hallock.

At first, the meetings seemed fine with Hallock explaining the importance of spiritual direction and questioning Cascio on his background and reasons for entering the seminary. Over time, Hallock “gained some trust and control” over Cascio.

But then Hallock would sit next to Cascio at the table for meals and began meeting him in private, isolated areas. He invited Cascio on “exotic trips” and would attempt to call Cascio out of his classes.

“Based on his indoctrination by the Diocese of Paterson, the leaders of Holy Apostles College & Seminary and his understanding of the role of a spiritual advisor, (Cascio) was blinded to the fact that Hallock was preying on him and grooming him in inappropriate ways,” the suit says.

• On Nov. 25, 2011, Hallock invited Cascio to Long Island, N.Y., to be with Hallock’s family, saying it would be a good opportunity for spiritual direction.

Cascio agreed and drove to Hallock’s aunt’s house. That night, Cascio was shown to his bedroom and was told to keep his door open so that the heat from downstairs would enter the room.

A few minutes later, Hallock asked Cascio if he wanted to come into his room to say a prayer together. Cascio agreed, but found when he entered the room that Hallock was only wearing underwear.

“(Cascio), who was properly attired, was shocked by what he saw but as soon as he entered the room Hallock told him to get on his knees to say prayers with him,” the suit says. “Still in a state of shock over what was happening, and unsure what to do since Hallock was his spiritual advisor and ‘mentor,’ Joshua did as he was instructed.”

When Cascio completed the prayers and got up to leave, Hallock hugged him and gave him two kisses on his right and left cheek, touching close to Cascio’s lips.

Cascio was distraught by the incident and concerned that no one of authority would believe him. He went to sleep and a few hours later was awoken to Hallock yelling.

Cascio thought Hallock was having a nightmare so he asked him if everything was OK. Hallock responded that he wanted to tell something to Cascio, but Cascio remained in bed. Hallock then entered Cascio’s room, still in his underwear, and lifted up the covers to climb into Cascio’s bed.

Hallock was moving closer to Cascio and began to press and rub against him. ... Cascio reminded Hallock that he had girlfriends in the past and was not a homosexual.

“This distracted Hallock enough so that (Cascio) could ask to go to confession with Hallock to keep him busy since (Cascio) was afraid of the way Hallock was acting and was fearful that he was going to be further sexually assaulted,” the lawsuit says.

After confession, Hallock gave Cascio absolution by putting a cross on his head and kissing him on the right and left cheek, again touching close to Cascio’s lips. Hallock eventually left the bedroom.

“As a result of the physical, emotional and sexual molestation by Hallock, (Cascio) was left in a state of shock and confusion. (Cascio) was extremely emotionally upset that night,” the suit says.

• The next day, Cascio drove back to New Jersey.

After the Thanksgiving break, he returned to seminary and tried to avoid his advisor, but Hallock continued to send Cascio emails and tried to ask him what had changed.

At the end of the semester, Cascio went home and on Dec. 24, 2011, Hallock showed up, uninvited at Cascio’s house.

Cascio was frightened since he had never given Hallock his address, so he went to see Father Raymond Lopatesky in Chester. Lopatesky requested permission to tell Bishop Arthur Serratelli what Hallock had done.

When Serratelli was told of the incident, he apologized to Cascio and assured him that things would be taken care of criminally and under Canon Law.

Hallock continued to email and write letters to Cascio.

Prior to returning for his second semester at seminary, Cascio met with Serratelli and told him everything that happened and said he did not want to return to that seminary for fear of retribution. Serratelli apologized for what had happened, but told Cascio that he had to go back to Holy Apostles College & Seminary or he would have to reapply to the Diocese of Paterson.

Serratelli contacted Father Douglas Mosey, a supervisory level member and employee of the Holy Apostles College & Seminary, to make him aware of the conduct of Hallock and to ensure there was no retaliation against Cascio.

But, when Cascio returned for the second semester he was “basically shunned by the priests from Hallock’s Order and Holy Apostle Seminary.”

He completed the semester and returned in September 2012, with “emotional problems and anxiety” from what had happened.

• Subsequent incidents caused Cascio to have anxiety attacks. He was taken off campus to be evaluated by a medical doctor and believed he needed to take a break for two weeks.

Father Benjamin J. Williams, assistant director of vocations for the Diocese of Paterson, and Father Hubert Jurjewicz, director of vocations for the Diocese of Paterson, were both involved in getting Cascio treatment. They directed the seminary and Mosey as to what course of action would be taken.

Serratelli and Mahoney had agreed that Cascio could continue with his studies once he was cleared for return by psychologist Dr. Michael Gerson, but while on break, Cascio received a letter from Jurjewicz saying he was being terminated from the seminary.

Cascio continued to attend therapy, with his sessions being paid by the Diocese of Paterson. On Dec. 14, 2012, Cascio was given approval by the doctor to return to a different seminary, and on Jan. 6, 2012, Cascio sent a letter asking to return.

Serratelli responded to Cascio’s letter on Jan. 24 by denying his request after consulting with the Vocation Board, which is believed to include Jurjewicz and Williams, as well as Mosey and Father John Hillier at Holy Apostles College & Seminary.

“The Bishop Serratelli sought the advice and guidance of those who aided and abetted the assaults,” the suit says.

In March or April, Cascio’s parents met with Serratelli, who assured them that Cascio would return to a seminary at the start of the coming school year in September 2013.

Cascio attempted to return to the priesthood through the Diocese of Metuchen in mid-2013, but after meeting with the vocation director he was later informed that “based on the Holy Apostle non-commendation,” the diocese would not sponsor him.

• Cascio continued his therapy with Gerson until his medical insurance was canceled by the Diocese of Paterson. In May or June 2013, Cascio had a meeting with Serratelli and Monsignor James Mahoney, an employee of the Diocese of Paterson, where the diocese offered to continue paying Gerson for the therapy sessions.

He was advised that the bishop would consider his return next year.

At that point, Cascio sought assistance from an attorney in South Jersey and was informed of a statute of limitations that would not permit a civil lawsuit after Nov. 25, 2013.

The attorney contacted Serratelli and Kenneth E. Mullaney Jr., the attorney for the Diocese of Paterson. Mullaney’s personal advice to Cascio was that if he “continued with a civil suit he would never be a priest.”

“This unsolicited personal advice continues up to the present from Bishop Serratelli, Mullaney, and the Diocese of Paterson despite the fact that Dr. Gerson still believes that (Cascio) is ready to ‘resume his studies at a different seminary’ and that he ‘will be an asset to any pastoral community,’” the lawsuit says.

Contact: jmasulli@njherald.com