Fr. Manuel Gallo Espinoza – Archdiocese of Newark

| May 9, 2019 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father Manuel Gallo Espinoza

Archdiocese of Newark

Ordained: 1998

Assigned as Follows:

  • St. Mary’s Church (Plainfield, NJ)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Manuel Gallo Espinoza:

Father Manuel Gallo Espinoza was a visiting priest from Ecuador who worked at St. Mary’s in Plainfield for several years.  According to media reports, in 2003, a 15-year-old boy from the youth group told church officials that Father Espinoza raped him in the parish bathroom. Two weeks later, Catholic Charities reported the allegation to the prosecutor’s office.

Following the accusations, the Archdiocese told Father Espinoza he could no longer work in the Archdiocese of Newark. He then fled to Ecuador to avoid police investigators.

In 2005, Espinoza returned to the United States and taught middle and high school in Maryland and Virginia. It appears he used a false name to re-enter the country.  Once discovered, he fled the country again in 2014.

As of 2015, the criminal investigation against Father Espinoza has been re-opened, but he is believed to be hiding in Ecuador. A warrant has been out for his arrest in New Jersey since January of 2016.

Father Espinoza’s name is included on the February 2019 list of credibly accused priests published by the Archdiocese of Newark.  He is listed as having been the subject of one credible allegation, presumably the one that led to the warrant for his arrest.  However, the Archdiocese provided no details about the allegation, so it may be a second one.

Father Espinoza is believed to be living in Ecuador.  He is 56 years old.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Newark in New Jersey.  If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused in the Archdiocese of Newark, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Newark now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us.  Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in New Jersey and nationwide. We can help.

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