24 Priests With Cherry Hill Ties Named On Church Sex Abuse List

CHERRY HILL, NJ - The Diocese of Camden released its list of priests who have been “credibly accused” of child sex abuse on Wednesday, and nearly half the priests on the list have ties to Cherry Hill A total of 24 of the 56 priests on the list have ties to Cherry Hill.

All of New Jersey's five dioceses were expected to release individual lists of accused priests at the same time. The Camden Diocese, which covers Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties, released their list just before noon.

The list includes those who admitted to the abuse, those who were found guilty after a trial in the church courts or the civil courts, and others against whom the evidence was so overwhelming as to be virtually unquestionable, Rev. Dennis J. Sullivan said in a statement announcing the names.

“Most of these incidents occurred in the 1970’s and the 1980’s and involved male teenagers. It should also be noted that the majority of these priests, all of whose names have been provided to local law enforcement authorities, are dead,” Sullivan said. “In many cases, a single allegation from 30 or 40 years ago was the only such charge that had ever been made against the priest, and was received after he had died. Thus, he was unable to respond to the allegation.”

Four allegations from the 1960’s and 1970’s that are being referred to the Diocesan Review Board for a determination as to their credibility were not included in the list, Sullivan said. Read his full statement here.

According to the Camden Archdiocese, the priests with Cherry Hill connections include:

Joseph Barber: Born in 1933, ordained in 1961. Served at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Berlin; St. Joseph's High School, Camden; Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill; and St. Mary, Cherry Hill. Barber is deceased.

Claude J. Bender: Born in 1932, ordained in 1965. Served at St. Anthony, Camden; St. Ann, Wildwood; St. Gregory, Magnolia; O.L. Star of the Sea, Cape May; St. Michael, Gibbstown; St. Thomas More, Cherry Hill; St. Matthew, National Park; St. Teresa, Runnemede; Our Lady of Lourdes, Glassboro; St. Michael, Atlantic City; Queen of the Apostles, Pennsville; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Ocean City; St. Rose of Lima, Newfield; and Vianney Villa, Cherry Hill. Bender is deceased.

John F. Bloh: Born in 1931, ordained in 1964. Served at O.L. Star of the Sea, Atlantic City; Holy Spirit High School, Absecon; St. Cecilia, Pennsauken; St. Bartholomew, Camden; St. Jude, Blackwood; St. Mary, Cherry Hill; Most Holy Redeemer, Westville Grove; St. Agnes, Blackwood; St. Edward, Pine Hill; Sts. Peter & Paul, Turnersville; St. Joseph, Swedesboro; Campus Minister Camden County College, Blackwood; and Campus Minister Gloucester County College, Sewell. Has been permanently removed from the ministry.

John D. Borer: Born in 1944, ordained in 1978. Served at St. Cecilia, Pennsauken; St. Pius X, Cherry Hill; Diocese of Santa Fe; St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral, Camden; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Berlin; St. Peter Celestine, Cherry Hill; Advanced Studies, California; Our Lady of Lourdes, Glassboro; Our Lady of the Pillar, Half Moon Bay, CA; Sacred Heart South, Cherry Hill; Holy Name of Jesus, Mullica Hill; Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit, Mullica Hill; Holy Saviour, Westmont; Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Collingswood; and Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Collingswood. Has been permanently removed from the ministry.

William B. Cannon: Born in 1927, ordained in 1954. Served at St. Peter, Pleasantville; St. Joan of Arc, Camden; Holy Name, Camden; St. Michael, Minotola; St. Vincent de Paul, Mays Landing; St. Lawrence, Lindenwold; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Woodlynne; Queen of Heaven, Cherry Hill; St. Martin de Porres, Hammonton; Christ the King, Haddonfield; St. Pius X, Cherry Hill; Chaplain Kessler Memorial Hospital, Hammonton. Cannon is deceased.

Gerald P. Clements: Born in 1941, ordained in 1970. Served at O.L. of Mt. Carmel, Berlin; Most Holy Redeemer, Westville Grove; Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill; Holy Savior, Westmont; St. Peter, Merchantville; St. Joseph, South Camden; Director, Vianney Villa; Director, Sacred Heart Residence; and Chaplain West Jersey Hospital, Camden. Clements is deceased.

John P. Connor: Born in 1934, ordained in 1962. Served at St. Francis of Assisi, Vineland; St. Mary, Gloucester; Paul VI High School, Haddon Township; St. Rose, Haddon Heights; Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Cherry Hill; St. John, Collingswood; Diocese of Pittsburgh; St. Alphonsus, Wexford PA; St. James, Sewickley PA; Immaculate Conception, Bridgeton; St. Teresa of Avila, Bridgeton; Sacred Heart Priest Residence; Chaplain Bridgeton/Millville Hospitals; and Vianney Renewal Center, Dittmer MO. Has been permanently removed from the ministry.

Vincent A. Doyle: Born in 1924, ordained in 1949. Served at Sacred Heart, Vineland; Holy Name, Camden; St. Edward, Pine Hill; O.L. of Mt. Carmel, Berlin; St. George, Camden; O.L. of the Angels, Cape May Court House; St. Francis, Barrington; St. Bridget, Glassboro; St. Nicholas, Egg Harbor; St. Anne, Westville; St. Michael, Cedarville; St. Anthony, Waterford; St. Mary's Nursing Home, Cherry Hill; and St. Joan of Arc, Camden. Doyle is deceased.

Francis J. Flemming: Born in 1935, ordained in 1961. Served at Sacred Heart, Vineland; Puerto Rican Apostolate; Sacred Heart High School, Vineland; Christ the King, Haddonfield; St. Mary of the Angels, Haddonfield; St. Bartholomew, Camden; St. Peter Celestine, Cherry Hill; Most Holy Redeemer, Westville; Our Lady Star of the Sea, Atlantic City; St. Joseph, Swedesboro; and St. John Neumann, Sicklerville. Flemming is deceased.

Edward Gillespie: Born in 1948, ordained in 1980. Served at St. Margaret, Woodbury Heights; St. Mary, Williamstown; St. Mary Magdalen, Millville; Sacred Heart High School, Vineland; St. Isidore the Farmer, Vineland; Vianney Villa, Cherry Hill; Chaplain West Jersey, Voorhees; and Chaplain St. Mary's Nursing Home and Manor, Cherry Hill. Gillespie is deceased.

Roy T. Hardin: Born in 1937, ordained in 1964. Served at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Cape May; St. Mary, Cherry Hill; Most Holy Redeemer, Westville; St. Martin de Porres, Hammonton; St. Joseph High School, Hammonton; Assumption, Atco; St. Edward, Pine Hill; Resurrection, Marmora; St. Isidore, Vineland; St. Mary, Williamstown; Blessed Sacrament, Margate; St. Mary, Rosenhayn; and St. Anne, Westville. Has been permanently removed from the ministry.

Thomas A. Harkins: Born in 1947, ordained in 1971. Served at St. Teresa, Runnemede; O.L. of Mt. Carmel, Camden; Holy Name, Camden; St. Anthony of Padua, Hammonton; Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico; St. Mary, Cherry Hill; Holy Savior, Westmont; Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill; St. Stephen, Pennsauken; Immaculate Conception, Camden; Chaplain Camden County Jail, Camden; and Chaplain Riverfront State Prison, Camden. Has been permanently removed from the ministry.

James F. Hopkins: Born in 1943, ordained in 1968. Served at Holy Maternity, Audubon; St. Cecilia, Pennsauken; Annunciation, Bellmawr; Holy Family, Turnersville; St. Vincent de Paul, Mays Landing; St. Peter, Merchantville; St. Aloysius, Oaklyn; St. Pius X, Cherry Hill; and St. Maurice, Brooklawn. Has been permanently removed from the ministry.

Frank X. Hudson: Born in 1944, ordained in 1974. Served at St. Mary, Gloucester; O.L. Star of the Sea, Atlantic City; St. Aloysius, Oaklyn; Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill; Most Holy Redeemer, Westville; St. Veronica, Delair; St. Peter, Pleasantville; St. Francis, Vineland; Immaculate Conception, Bridgeton; St. Michael, Cedarville; St. John Bosco, Millville; and St. John, Deptford. Has been permanently removed from the ministry.

Charles P. McClogan: Born in 1930, ordained in 1964. Served at St. Luke, Stratford; Immaculate Conception, Camden; St. Mary, Gloucester; St. Peter, Merchantville; St. Bernadette, Northfield; St. Thomas More, Cherry Hill; O.L. of the Angels, Cape May Ct.House; St. Edward, Pine Hill; St. Rose, Haddon Heights; St. Mary, Gloucester; St. Joan of Arc, Camden; St. Nicholas, Egg Harbor; Most Holy Redeemer, Westville; and American College, Louvain Belgium. McClogan is deceased.

Francis J. McLaughlin: Born in 1930, ordained in 1962. Served at St. Thomas, Brigantine; Queen of Apostles, Brigantine; Assumption, Atco; St. John, Paulsboro; Corpus Christi, Carneys Point; St. Peter Celestine, Cherry Hill; St. Joseph, Swedesboro; and St. Francis de Sales, Barrington. McLaughlin is deceased.

Joseph Orsini: Born in 1937. Ordained in 1964. Served at St. Isidore, Vineland; Sacred Heart, Mt. Ephraim; Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill; O.L. of Mt. Carmel, Camden; St. Paul, Stone Harbor; St. Agnes, Blackwood; St. Edward, Pine Hill; Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester; Campus Minister Rutgers University, Camden; Immaculate Conception, Camden; Holy Rosary, Cherry Hill; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Woodlynne; Campus Minister Stockton/Atlantic County Community College; Assumption, Pomona; and Holy Spirit, Atlantic City. Orsini is deceased.

Peter J. Osinski: Born in 1943, ordained in 1969. Served at St. Andrew, Gibbsboro; Assumption, Wildwood Crest; St. Maria Goretti, Runnemede; Paul VI High School, Haddon Township; St. Lucy, Blue Anchor; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Woodlynne; Divine Word College, Washington DC; Sacred Heart High School, Vineland; St. John Bosco, Millville; Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill; Our Lady of Grace, Somerdale; St. Stephen, Pennsauken; St. James High School, Carneys Point; St. Michael, Gibbstown; and Queen of the Apostles, Pennsville. Osinski is deceased.

Timothy E. Pisik: Born in 1947, ordained in 1974. Served at St. Thomas More, Cherry Hill; St. Michael, Gibbstown; St. Thomas, Brigantine; St. Mary, Salem; St. Michael, Cedarville; Mary, Mother of the Church, Bellmawr. Pisik is deceased.

Dennis J. Rigney: Born in 1914, ordained in 1942. Served at St. Mary, Gloucester; St. Joseph, East Camden; St. Joseph, Somers Point; Sacred Heart, Camden; Holy Saviour, Westmont; Our Lady of Victories, Landisville; Our Lady Queen of Peace, Pitman; St. Anne, Westville; St. Pius X, Cherry Hill; St. Vincent Pallotti, Haddon Township.

Francis L. Salamandra: Born in 1931, ordained in 1961. Served at St. Matthew, National Park; Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill; St. Aloysius, Oaklyn; St. Ann, Wildwood; St. Stephen, Pennsauken; O.L. of Good Counsel, Ocean City; and St. Rose, Newfield. Has been permanently removed from the ministry.

Brendan V. Sullivan: Born in 1934, ordained in 1960. Served at St. Teresa, Runnemede; Queen of Apostles, Runnemede; St. Maurice, Brooklawn; Villanova University, Advanced Studies; St. Joan of Arc, Camden; Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill; Blessed Sacrament, Margate; Holy Spirit High School, Absecon; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Absecon; Our Lady of Grace, Somerdale; Assumption, Atco; St. Patrick, Woodbury; and St. James, Ventnor. Sullivan is deceased.

Alfred J. Vasapolli: Born in 1947, ordained in 1973. Served at Christ the King, Haddonfield; St. Aloysius, Oaklyn; Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill; St. Peter Celestine, Cherry Hill; St. Rose of Lima, Haddon Heights; St. Veronica, Delair; Transfiguration, West Collingswood; St. Joseph, South Camden; and O.L. of the Lakes, Collings Lakes. Has been permanently removed from the ministry.

Patrick J. Weaver: Born in 1935, ordained in 1963. Served at Our Lady of Victories, Landisville; St. John, Collingswood; Corpus Christi, Carney’s Point; St. John, Paulsboro; St. Mary’s Parish, Cherry Hill; and St. Joan of Arc, Camden. Weaver is deceased.

The Roman Catholic Dioceses in New Jersey are undertaking a complete review of their files so that the names of all priests and deacons who have been credibly accused of the sexual abuse of minors could be made public.

The dioceses are undertaking this action in coordination with the Attorney General of New Jersey's ongoing task force examining the issue of clergy sexual abuse.

“In September 2018, I established a statewide task force to investigate allegations of sexual abuse by clergy in the Catholic dioceses of New Jersey. I am pleased to see that our task force’s grand jury investigation has prompted the dioceses to finally take some measures to hold predator priests accountable,” Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a separate statement. “While this is a positive first step towards transparency and accountability, I hope this spirit of openness continues during the course of our ongoing investigation and in response to our requests for records and information.

“Despite the recent actions by the dioceses, our investigation remains ongoing because no institution or individual is immune from accountability. We know from the hundreds of calls that we have received over our tip line that there are many others who were abused as children and as adults, both by diocesan clergy and clergy members in various religious orders. The investigative work of the task force continues so that we may assure that all survivors of clergy abuse are heard and all abusers and institutions are held accountable for their acts. To this end, we anticipate taking criminal action wherever appropriate and releasing comprehensive information at the conclusion of our investigation.”

The Archdiocese of Newark and the Dioceses of Camden, Trenton, Paterson and Metuchen said they are committed to the establishment of a "Victim Compensation and Counseling Program."
This program will provide the resources to compensate those victims of child sexual abuse by clergy and employees of the Dioceses in New Jersey whose financial claims are legally barred by New Jersey's statute of limitations, according to the statement.

Authorities said the program also will assure that victims who have not received any financial compensation will be paid, regardless of whether their claims meet the time requirements of the statute of limitations.

The Attorney General’s Office urges survivors and others with information to contact its toll-free tip line, 855-363-6548, which is staffed by trained professionals on a 24/7 basis.

See related: List Of 186 Priests Accused Of Child Sexual Abuse

This article includes reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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