Fr. Reuben Abaya – Diocese of Trenton

| Nov 15, 2019 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father Reuben Abaya

Diocese of Trenton

Ordained: 1977

Removed: N/A

Assigned as follows:

  • 1977-1978: Our Lady Help of Christians (East Orange, NJ)
  • 1978-1980: Holy Cross (Rumson, NJ)
  • 1978-1980: Holy Rosary (Rumson, NJ)
  • 1980: St. Philomena (Carson, CA)
  • 1980-1983: St. Mary’s (Perth Amboy, NJ)
  • 1984-2019:  (Philippines)

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Reuben Abaya:

Fr. Reuben Abaya was a Filipino priest who worked in New Jersey from 1977 to 1982. According to media reports, in 1984, he was one of seven priests accused of sexual abuse of a 16-year old girl. Abaya was visiting the other priests at St. Philomena in Carson, CA in April 1980, when the alleged abuse occurred.

The girl was first seduced by Fr. Santiago (Henry) Tamayo, then by Abaya and five other Filipino priests. The girl became pregnant by one of the other priests (not Abaya). The priests secretly sent her to the Philippines where she endured a difficult pregnancy and nearly died giving birth.

In 1984, a lawsuit was filed. With support from the Archdiocese, all the priests fled the country and returned to the Philippines. The suit was dropped soon after. In 1991, Tamayo, the priest who first raped the girl, publicly apologized to the victim in a news conference, for his crimes and for involving the other priests in her abuse. In 2007, the victim’s case was settled for $500,000, part of a $660-million settlement between the church and hundreds of people alleging abuse by priests.

It is believed that Abaya is currently the Spiritual Director at St. Mary’s Seminary in Laoag City, Philippines.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Trenton in New Jersey. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in New Jersey, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Trenton 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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