Newark Archdiocese reaches 2 six-figure settlements with victims of clergy abuse
The two alleged victims attended Holy Rosary Church and St. Nicholas in Jersey City.
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Two men who say they were sexually abused as children by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio have reached a six-figure settlement with the Newark Archdiocese.
The two alleged victims are Sam Tadros, who attended Holy Rosary Church in Jersey City as a child in the 1970s, and Mark Matzek, who was an altar server at St. Nicholas in Jersey City during the same time period.
At the time the alleged victims say they were abused, DiMarzio was working as a priest for St. Nicholas Church and Holy Rosary Church.
Another priest, Father Albert Mark, also worked at St. Nicholas and was accused in this case.
Tadros says he was abused by DiMarzio 10 different times between the ages of 6 and 8 years old. He says those incidents took place at Holy Rosary and within Tadros’ own home. Tadros says the effects have lingered ever since.
“I’ve been dealing with it my entire childhood, my adult life. I think of it every single day, what happened,” said Tadros.
Matzek, who is now 62 years old, says he suffered at the hands of both DiMarzio and Albert while in an office at St. Nicholas.
“The priests would take turns. One day he would be abused by Father Albert Mark, the next by Father DiMarzio," said Matzek's attorney, Mitch Garabedian. “This case is evidence that the Catholic Church is morally corrupt from top to bottom and in between with regard to protecting children.”
The Newark Archdiocese responded to the settlements with the following statement.
“The settlements are not an admission of fact or liability. Although the Archdiocese of Newark was aware of the independent investigation conducted by the Archdiocese of New York, which found the allegations against Bishop DiMarzio “not to have the semblance of truth,” the Archdiocese of Newark chose to settle the lawsuits to avoid the costs of litigation and help bring resolution to painful matters for everyone involved.”
Bishop DiMarzio is retired and has denied the claims of abuse.
Albert Mark is deceased.
