An article published by the Star Ledger and posted to nj.com on June 2 presented inaccurate and, in some instances, false information about the civil suit against the Diocese of Trenton by Christopher Naples over charges that he was sexually abused as a minor by Father Terence McAlinden beginning in the mid 1980s.

These allegations  date back to 2007, at which time the Diocese responded swiftly and responsibly, contrary to the information and interviews published in the article.  At that time, the Diocese took a series of actions out of an abundance of concern for the victim, the parish and the public.

The Diocese has taken the complaints filed by Mr. Naples very seriously since the day they were first brought to our attention. The Diocese's own investigation found the charges to be credible and Father McAlinden was immediately removed from ministry by then-Bishop John M. Smith. Father McAlinden's priestly faculties were suspended, meaning that he could not celebrate Mass, wear a collar or present himself as a priest anywhere.  

 Only days after Father McAlinden’s removal, Bishop Smith and a team of diocesan officials held a town meeting with 1,000 of Father McAlinden's parishioners and reported the allegations against their pastor and the actions that were taken.  Repeated appeals were made by the Diocese for anyone else who may have suffered abuse by Father McAlinden, or who knew someone who had, to come forward.  Press releases were issued to the media, posted to our website and published in our diocesan newspaper about the charges against Father McAlinden and his removal.  Every attempt was made to inform the public about this case. 

Furthermore, our outreach to Mr. Naples was immediate.  The Diocese’s Victim’s Assistance Coordinator met with him and offered to arrange for counseling.  He was also offered the opportunity to meet with the Diocesan Review Board.  Instead, he chose to take his case to court – in the State of Delaware – and name the Diocese as a culpable party.  We worked hard to try to resolve the case, as we have resolved others, but without success.

Pieces of an oral argument clipped from a transcript and made by an attorney in defending the Diocese against Mr. Naples' multi-million dollar lawsuit in Delaware are now being used to obscure the very real efforts made by the Diocese on Mr. Naples' behalf. The basis of that lawsuit were two incidents that were reported to occur in Delaware when Father McAlinden had taken Mr. Naples on a trip. The attorney's position, which related only to those two incidents, was that these were not church-related trips, and that Father McAlinden, in the commission of criminal acts, was most certainly not acting in his ministerial role as a priest.  The Delaware Supreme Court agreed.

We also refute Father McAlinden’s reported claim that he is a “retired priest.”  In May, 2011 Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., permanently removed Father McAlinden from any possibility of public ministry or functioning as a priest after reports surfaced that Father McAlinden was continuing to celebrate Masses in his home in violation of the order given by Bishop Smith at the time of Father McAlinden’s suspension. 

Furthermore, the  conduct with teens acknowledged by Father McAlinden in his testimony and described by him as “standard practice" is  anything but “standard.” It is thoroughly reprehensible and in no way represents conduct that would ever be condoned by the Diocese of Trenton or the Church anywhere. 

The Diocese remains committed to helping Mr. Naples. We renew our offer to work with him to resolve this case.

Once again, we reach out to anyone who may have been abused by Father McAlinden or who has any knowledge of such abuse.  You are encouraged to report that abuse to your local law enforcement agency, and to the Diocese by calling 1-888-296-2965.

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