NEW BRUNSWICK (NJ)
Bridgewater Courier News
June 18, 2019
By Nick Muscavage
Four people — three men and one woman — have filed a lawsuit against a longtime Presbyterian minister, claiming he indulged in sexual behavior to exorcise evil spirits from them.
The Rev. Dr. William Weaver, the former minister of Linden Presbyterian Church for 39 years, is accused of sexual assault, aggravated assault, sexual battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress, misrepresentation and gross negligence, in the 105-page lawsuit filed Tuesday by Toms River attorney Robert Fuggi in Middlesex County Superior Court.
The lawsuit also names as defendants the Linden Presbyterian Church, the Presbytery of Elizabeth and the Presbyterian Church (USA).
No criminal charges have been filed against Weaver. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office could neither deny or confirm any information relating to Weaver
Fuggi said in an email that Weaver used his abilities and position “for evil.” He also said that although Weaver was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary — one of the leading Presbyterian seminaries in the country — he broke all tenets of the faith “by using his position of pastoral authority to harm and manipulate these victims for his own twisted desires.”
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