Kicking Under the Bus

• "The Diocese of Trenton was notified by the Provincial Superior of the Third Order Regular Franciscans (TOR) on Monday evening, Sept. 9, that a single allegation of sexual abuse of a minor dating back to 1975 has been made to the Franciscans against [a priest]...currently employed by the Diocese of Trenton....Although Father...denies the allegation, he has resigned from his positions, effective immediately" (Diocese of Trenton, 9/10/19)
• "On March 17, 2019, the Diocese of Trenton received an allegation....The alleged abuse dates back to the late 1970s and early 1980s....This is the first and only allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against [the priest] ....the Diocese has determined that the allegation is credible....[The priest] has denied the allegation. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., removed ...[the priest] from ministry, effective immediately" (Diocese of Trenton, 3/30/19)
• "The present climate of suspicion surrounding Catholic priests amid the sexual abuse crisis has created a situation where accusations are accepted and acted upon without question and deemed almost normal where clerics are concerned. In some cases, the innocent are paying for the sins of the guilty" (Jeanne Smits, 3/6/19) 
• Compensation funds in New York have reportedly paid "an average of $200,000 per victim....The Archdiocese of Philadelphia compensation fund has announced that 'eligible claims will be paid within two weeks'" (The Daily Item, 12/6/18)
• "Destroying the reputations of all clergy who've ever been accused of any misconduct, without first determining they're truly guilty, is not the answer" (Cathy Caridi, JCL, 9/27/18).