A Statement by the Diocese of Trenton Concerning Alleged Sexual Abuse by Father Nilo S. Apura

Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton
August 21, 2014

http://www.dioceseoftrenton.org/statement-diocese-of-trenton-concerning-father-nilo-apura/

It is with heavy hearts that we report an allegation of sexual abuse by a priest serving in the Diocese of Trenton.

On Aug. 18, we received an allegation of sexual abuse committed by Father Nilo S. Apura against a 16-year-old minor. The complaint was based on abuse alleged to have taken place in Trenton. It is the only complaint that we have received about Father Apura, and it has no connection to St. Martha Parish in Point Pleasant, where he has been serving as pastor.

The complaint was immediately turned over to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. An investigation was initiated, resulting in Father Apura’s arrest today by law enforcement officers.

Father Apura has served as pastor of St. Martha Parish since July of 2012, and formerly served in the parishes of St. Joachim, Trenton; St. Agnes, Atlantic Highlands; St. Maximilian Kolbe, Toms River; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown; St. Ann Parish, Keansburg, and St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has suspended Father Apura, effective immediately, pending the outcome of the investigation by law enforcement and recommendations from the Diocesan Review Board. This suspension prohibits Father Apura from celebrating Mass publicly, wearing priestly garb, or presenting himself as a priest.

The Diocese will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement’s ongoing investigation into this allegation. All inquiries about the investigation should be directed to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

We call upon anyone who may have information or allegations relevant to this case to contact the Special Victims’ Unit of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-989-6568 as well as the Diocese of Trenton Abuse Hotline at 1-888-296-2965 (or email abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org).

Sexual abuse committed by anyone representing the Church is a sin against God and His people, and a betrayal of the trust placed in the Church by families. We reiterate our firm commitment to the safeguards and initiatives in place to keep our children safe, and we ask the faithful throughout the Diocese to pray for all who may have been harmed in this case.