Father Peter Cheplic
Archdiocese of Newark
Ordained: 1972
First Accused: 2002
Voluntary Leave: 2005
Retired: 2006
Assigned as Follows:
- St. Henry’s Roman Catholic Church (Bayonne, NJ)
- St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church (Weehawken, NJ)
- St. Aloysius Catholic Church (Jersey City, NJ)
- Holy Spirit/Our Lady Help of Christians (East Orange, NJ)
- St. Matthew’s Catholic Church (Ridgefield, NJ)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Peter Cheplic:
According to a list of credibly accused priests released by the Archdiocese of Newark in February 2019, Father Peter Cheplic was credibly accused of molesting several children. No details about the allegations, such as the age/gender of his victims, or his assignment(s) at the time of the abuse were disclosed.
According to media reports, the first victim came to the Archdiocese in 2002 and told Chancery officials about forced drinking and molestation by the priest while he was assigned at Holy Spirit/ Our Lady Help of Christians in East Orange. Two more victims came forward and alleged that Cheplic abused them from 1982-1985.
This lead to Cheplic taking a voluntary leave of absence in 2005. A year later, he opted to retire in lieu of being laicized by the Vatican involuntarily. Since the abuse was not done to a minor at the time, the charges did not “warrant removal.”
Cheplic’s faculties to minister were removed at the time of his retirement, but he remains a priest. He is last known living without restrictions at St. John Vianney Residence for Retired Priests in Rutherford, NJ.
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.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.