NEW JERSEY
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Posted by Tom Davis (Editor) , October 03, 2013
A Catholic priest who once ministered to an Ocean County congregation has been suspended following a sexting scandal with a man he reportedly thought was a 16-year-old boy.
The Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., has formally suspended Rev. Matthew Riedlinger from all priestly ministry, including presenting himself as a priest or wearing clerical garb.
Riedlinger preached at St. Aloysius Church in Jackson until August 2012, when he entered counseling following complaints of inappropriate cellphone text conversations with other adults, according to USA Today.
The Diocese of Trenton said it has taken this “rare, but significant, step due to Father Riedlinger’s actions which form a ‘betrayal of trust and confidence,’ not only for those whom Father Riedlinger has hurt with his online and cell phone activities, but also for the Catholic community and beyond.”
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