Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson

On February 13, 2019, all of the Catholic dioceses based in New Jersey released the names of clergy who had been credibly accused of sexually abusing children since 1940.[7] Of the 188 listed, 28 were based in the Diocese of Paterson.[7] Newark archbishop, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, who leads the ecclesiastical province where the Diocese of Paterson is based, also acknowledged that the alleged acts of abuse committed by the clergy listed were reported to law enforcement agencies.[7] One of the priests also served in not only the Archdiocese of Newark, but also in the Diocese of Paterson.[7] By 2020, the names of 40 accused clergy listed were made public.[8] Some were already convicted.[8]

On February 9, 2020, it was reported that all five Catholic dioceses across the state of New Jersey, which includes the Diocese of Paterson, had paid over $11 million compensate 105 claims of sex abuse committed by Catholic clergy. Of these 105 claims, 98 were compensated through settlements. The payments also do not involve 459 other sex abuse cases in these dioceses which are still not resolved.[9]

On April 28, 2020, the Diocese of Paterson revealed that notorious "predator priest" James Hanley died earlier in the week.[10] Admitting to sexually abusing numerous children while serving in the Diocese, Hanley was defrocked in 2003.[10] In 2004, the Diocese of Paterson settled lawsuits from 21 of Hanley's victims for approximately $5 million.[10] Despite not having a criminal conviction for sex abuse, Hanley did later serve a year in jail after being convicted in 2006 for unlawfully possessing a weapon in a motel.[10][11] In December 2019, more accusers of Hanley filed new lawsuits against the Diocese of Paterson.[12][11]

On August 10, 2020, former Bishop of Paterson Frank Rodimer's decision to approve of the Vatican naming Archdiocese of Newark Auxiliary Bishop Arthur Serratelli as his successor came under criticism, due to revelations that he had learned about sex abuse allegations facing Serratelli's former Newark superior, ArchBishop Theodore McCarrick.[13] It was also revealed that a Diocese of Paterson official had informed Rodimer at the time of allegations that McCarrick had sexually abuses boys at his beach house and that Rodimer then claimed to the official that he would contact the Vatican's U.S. representatives.[13] Serratelli, who Complicit Clergy described as McCarrick's "creation," has also been accused of promoting and protecting "predators"[14] On December 1, 2020, it was revealed that the Archdiocese of Newark was among more than 230 sex abuse lawsuits filed within a period of one year against New Jersey Catholic Dioceses.[15]

1. Thomas Henry McLaughlin (1937–1947)
2. Thomas Aloysius Boland (1947–1952), appointed Archbishop of Newark
3. James A. McNulty (1953–1963), appointed Bishop of Buffalo
4. James Johnston Navagh (1963–1965)
5. Lawrence B. Casey (1966–1977)
6. Frank Joseph Rodimer (1978–2004)
7. Arthur J. Serratelli (2004–2020)
8. Kevin J. Sweeney (2020–present)

• Diocesan bishop: The Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney
• Vicar general and Moderator of the Curia:
  • Msgr. James T. Mahoney
  • The Rev. Michael Parisi
• Judicial vicars:
  • Msgr. Edward J. Kurtyka, P.A., judicial vicar
  • Msgr. Joseph Anginoli, adjutant judicial vicar
• Episcopal vicars:
  • The Rev. Stanley Barron, Vicar for Education
  • The Rev. Hernan Arias, Vicar for Pastoral Administration
  • The Rev. Paul Manning, Vicar for Evangelization
• Chancellor and Delegate for Religious: Sr. Joan Healy, S.C.C.
• Vice chancellor and priest-secretary to the bishop: The Rev. Stephen Prisk
• Vice Chancellor for Urban Ministry and Planning: Sr. Catherine McDonnell, O.P.

The 109 parishes of the diocese are split organizationally into twelve deaneries spanning the three counties:

N.B. Our Lady of Fatima Traditional Latin Mass Chapel, located in Pequannock, is not considered a parish of the Diocese of Paterson. Instead, it is a chapel of ease administered by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

Tertiary education

• Assumption College for Sisters, Mendham (operated by the Sisters of Christian Charity)
• Saint Elizabeth University (formerly College of Saint Elizabeth), Convent Station (operated by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth)

Diocesan high schools

• DePaul Catholic High School, Wayne
• Morris Catholic High School, Denville
• Pope John XXIII Regional High School, Sparta

Other Catholic high schools

• Academy of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station (operated by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth)
• Delbarton School, Morristown (operated by the Benedictine monks of Saint Mary's Abbey)
• Mary Help of Christians Academy, North Haledon (operated by the Salesian Sisters)
• Villa Walsh Academy, Morristown (operated by the Religious Teachers Filippini)

Former diocesan high schools

• Pope Pius XII High School, Passaic (closed at the end of the 1982-1983 academic year)
• Neumann Preparatory School, Wayne (closed at the end of the 1989-1990 academic year)
• Paul VI Regional High School, Clifton (closed at the end of the 1989-1990 academic year)
• Paterson Catholic High School, Paterson (closed at the end of the 2009-2010 academic year)

• Saint Clare's Health System (part of Catholic Health Initiatives)
  • St. Clare's Hospital/Boonton (formerly Riverside Hospital)
  • St. Clare's Hospital/Denville
  • St. Clare's Hospital/Dover (formerly Dover General Hospital)
  • St. Clare's Hospital/Sussex (formerly Wallkill Valley Hospital)
• St. Joseph's Healthcare System (operated by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth):
  • St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson
  • St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, Paterson
  • St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital (formerly Wayne General Hospital)
• St. Mary's Hospital, Passaic (operated by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth)