Fr. Donald Sella – Diocese of Paterson

| Apr 16, 2019 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father Donald Sella

Diocese of Paterson

Ordained: 1983

Died: 2018

Assigned as follows:

  • St. Anthony (Hawthorne, NJ)

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Donald Sella:

According to media reports, in January 2004, Fr. Donald Sella was named in a civil lawsuit filed against the Diocese of Paterson by 27 people claiming to have been abused by priests of the Diocese, including Sella.

In February 2005, the claim against Sella was settled as part of a $5 million global settlement of the lawsuit. Sella was still serving in a parish in 2005 because “the diocese found no evidence of wrongdoing during an internal review”. He remained in ministry for several more years after the settlement. Sella retired from the ministry, voluntarily and in good standing, some time after the 2005 settlement.

Sella’s name was not included on the Diocese of Paterson’s February 2019 list of priests of clergy credibly accused of sexually abusing children.

He died in 2018.

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.