Many Dems mum on call for Newark archbishop Myers to quit

NEW JERSEY
The Record

FRIDAY MAY 3, 2013

BY JOHN REITMEYER, HERB JACKSON AND CHARLES STILE
STAFF WRITERS
THE RECORD

A day after their leading candidate for governor said the Newark archbishop should resign amid a priest child abuse scandal, fellow Democrats remained divided on the issue — with many not saying anything at all.

It’s a marked change from a month ago, when top Democrats clamored in near unison for resignations at Rutgers University following the physical and verbal abuse of basketball players by a coach.

And it could represent the fear of potential backlash from Catholic voters with all 120 seats in the Democratic-controlled Legislature on the November ballot this year, or a sign that state Sen. Barbara Buono — who has clashed with party leaders in the past — does not yet have their full support.

Buono, a Democrat from Middlesex County who is challenging Governor Christie this year, said Newark Archbishop John J. Myers should step down, questioning his ability to lead after word that a priest seemingly broke his legally binding agreement with Bergen County prosecutors to never again be unsupervised with children, minister to children or work with children so long as he remained a priest.

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