BishopAccountability.org
	Three Men Accuse Priest of Sexual Abuse in N.J. By Shai Ben-Yaacov The Newsworks February 21, 2011 http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/13593-three-men-accuse-priest-of-sexual-abuse-in-nj As allegations of abuse rack the Philadelphia Archdiocese, three men of different generations are coming forward claiming they were abused by the same Trenton Diocese priest. Chris Naples filed a lawsuit back in 2007 alleging Reverend Terence McAlinden sexually abused him over the course of 10 years beginning in 1985. McAlinden was placed on administrative leave after the case was filed. The lawsuit caught the eye of Patrick Newcomb, who said McAlinden abused him in the early 1980s. He settled with the diocese 20 years ago for an undisclosed amount, but said the diocese did little to prevent McAlinden from victimizing others. "They confronted him about the allegations in 1989, he denied it, and they let it go at that," Newcomb said. "They never reported it to the District Attorney's Office. And in 1989, there was a law on the books in New Jersey that required them to report such abuse to the District Attorney's Office, and they did not. And that in itself is a crime." A third man, Bob Markulic, says McAlinden abused him in the late 1960's. "I feel really frustrated that I didn't come forward earlier. If I had come forward earlier, maybe Patrick wouldn't have suffered this, and neither would have Chris," says Markulic. In a written statement, the Trenton Diocese confirmed that McAlinden has been removed from ministry following Naples' lawsuit filing. Officials, who said McAlinden may be removed from the priesthood, said they did not know of any other abuse allegations against him.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.