Archdiocese Vows to Cooperate in Probe of Jersey City Youth Baseball Coach

By Patrick McGovern
Jersey Journal
May 29, 2014

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2014/05/archdiocese_vows_corporation_with_prosecutors_in_mercado_case.html#incart_river_default

John Mercado, 52, of Jersey City, who was charged on May 23, 2014, with sexual assault of seven underage boys. Photo courtesy of Hudson County Prosecutor's Office

The Archdiocese of Newark is pledging to cooperate fully with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office investigation of John Mercado, the longtime Jersey City youth sports coach and teacher charged with molesting seven boys over the past three decades.

School officials at Elysian Charter School have said that Mercado would be suspended from his administrative assistant and athletic director positions there. Mercado also formerly worked at the now-closed St. Anne’s School in the Jersey City Heights and Hoboken Catholic Academy.

“Teachers do go through background checks,” said archdiocese spokesman Jim Goodness. “We are checking right now to make sure Mr. Mercado went through those checks.”

“We are certainly aware of the case, and will corporate fully with the prosecutor’s office,” he noted.

Matthew McGrath, principal of Hoboken Catholic Academy, released a statement to the parents of students. In the note he said:

“We will cooperate fully with the office of the Hudson County Prosecutor and the Office of Child and Youth Protection of the Archdiocese of Newark. Thank you for your patience as we navigate these trying times. Please keep the children and families of anyone involved in this terrible situation in your prayers.”

Joe Napolitano Jr., president of Pershing Field Babe Ruth League, one of the baseball leagues in which Mercado coached, said that he never heard any complaints or rumors concerning Mercado over the time he coached there, which was more than 15 years ago.

"I'm shocked,” said Napolitano. “I really don't know what to say."

While the Prosecutor's Office has identified seven victims, Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Debra Simon declined to speculate on if or how many alleged victims will come forward.