NEW JERSEY
The Star-Ledger
By James Queally/The Star-Ledger
on July 25, 2013
PASSAIC — An assistant pastor at two Passaic County churches was arrested today and charged with luring a 14-year-old girl to his residence and trying to kiss her, officials said.
The Rev. Jose Lopez, 34, was charged with luring a child, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact in connection with the January incident, according to Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Holmsen.
Lopez was a parochial vicar, essentially an assistant pastor, at St. Mary’s Assumption and St. Nicholas churches in Passaic, said Richard Sokerka, a spokesman for the Diocese of Paterson. A native of Colombia, Lopez was ordained in 2011, Sokerka said.
“The diocese is deeply saddened by these charges and offers its prayers to those who have come forward in this matter,” Sokerka said in a statement.
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