Sex abuse victim advocates protest as priest accused of groping NJ girl heads to court

By Arnold Godoy
Fios 1 News
August 9, 2017

http://www.fios1news.com/newjersey/protests-against-priest-accused-of-groping-teen-girl-aug-9-2017#.WYt0-FGGMdV

MORRISTOWN — Protestors are out in full force Wednesday, as the priest accused of inappropriately touching a teenage girl heads to court.

Fr. Marcin Nurek is expected in court for a detention hearing. He is accused of groping a teenage girl.

"It is outrageous that a priest who was ordained for 33 days would be already having the arrogance and the chutzpah, you know, to sexually abuse somebody," said Robert Hoatson, president of Road to Recovery, a nonprofit charity that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families.

The demonstration is a result of the arrest of Fr. Nurek who is accused of groping a teenage girl last week in Boonton.

The priest was ordained just last month. He was set to begin his work at St. Catherine of Siena in Mountain Lakes as an associate pastor, but the Diocese of Paterson has revoked his assignment in light of the arrest.

The diocese releasing a statement, which says Fr. Nurek passed an international criminal background check and completed a program on how to appropriately behave with children.

The demonstration is geared toward making sure victims of sexual abuse speak up.

"Well, we hope that other victims will see this and imitate what this teenage girl has done: Report the crimes. It's crucial,” Hoatson said.

Nurek is facing charges including endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact.