Officials admit 30 accusations of sex abuse at Delbarton School and abbey

<p>Leaders of a Catholic Order in New Jersey publicly admit that 30 people have come forward alleging sexual abuse by monks at the Delbarton School in Morristown.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jul 26, 2018, 2:47 AM

Updated 2,329 days ago

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Leaders of a Catholic Order in New Jersey publicly admit that 30 people have come forward alleging sexual abuse by monks at the Delbarton School in Morristown.
Of the 30 who came forward, some have already received settlements, while others are still in the middle of litigation.
In a joint letter written to the community on July 20, the head of St. Mary's Abbey and the Delbarton School headmaster say the abuse allegedly took place while many of the victims were students at the school.
Delbarton is managed by the Order of St. Benedict of New Jersey. The letter states that the reported assaults happened between 1968 and 1999. The assaults allegedly involved 13 monks and one teacher.  The settlement money was been paid through insurance and not donations. The victims are also free to speak.
“This was an interesting first step. I think they believe this is enough but this is not enough. It's a little somewhat offensive because they claim to be transparent that's not the way I see it,” says Gregory Gianforcaro, an attorney for the victims.
Gianforcaro says that the clerics are supposed to be under restrictions in the abbey, but he says that they are still 100 feet away from the school. He also says that he believes that the school covered up the allegations.
There were also reports made by a parishioner of St. James Church in Basking Ridge and former students of St. Elizabeth of Hungary School in Linden. An allegation was also made by the sons of a former Delbarton School employee.