Brother Malachy Flavin
Diocese of Paterson
Joined Order: Unknown
Left Order: 1987
Assigned as follows:
- Delbarton School (Morristown, NJ)
- Resurrection Parish (Randolph, NJ)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Brother Malachy Flavin:
Br. Malachy Flavin was a monk of the Benedictine Order. According to media reports, in 1992, a man alleged that he was sexually abused by Flavin on two occasions. The first incident was in September 1978 when he was 15 years old and a student at Delbarton, a private all-male college-prep school. The second time was when he was 18 years old and home from college visiting the school.
The former student was told that the Order knew of another victim and that Flavin had resigned in 1987 after an alleged drinking incident with another boy. School officials promised that the monk wouldn’t be allowed back on campus.
Delbarton officials did not investigate the allegations or inform the Diocese of Paterson. Almost ten years later, the alleged victim heard Flavin was working as a deacon at Resurrection parish in Randolph, New Jersey. He notified Delbarton officials that he wanted them to report his abuse to the authorities and to pay for his weekly therapy visits. He also said he wanted a financial settlement from the abbey, and to ensure that Flavin was not an active deacon anywhere. In response, he was told to get a lawyer.
In 2002, the alleged victim went public with the allegations. A special review panel determined the allegations were credible. In 2003, the Diocese of Paterson asked the Vatican to laicize Flavin because he refused to voluntarily leave the Order.
“I feel fantastic that this guy will never again be able to present himself as a religious figure,” the victim said. “It’s my school, and I want to . . . prevent this from happening to some other kids. I did the community a distinctive service. His corrupt and despicable ministry is now over.”
As of February 2017, Flavin was living in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Paterson. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Paterson, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Paterson now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.