Father Benedict Worry
Diocese of Trenton
Ordained: 1987
Removed: 2012
Assigned as follows:
- 1987-1988: Unknown
- 1989-2017: St. Mary’s Abbey (Morristown, NJ)
- 1996-1997: Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Trenton (Princeton, NJ)
- 1997: St. James Church (Pennington, NJ)
- 1998-2010: St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church (Linden, NJ)
- 2004-2008: Deanery: Little Flower Parish (Union County Southeast, NJ)
- 2012: St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church (Linden, NJ)
- 2013-2019: Unknown
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Benedict Worry:
Fr. Benedict Worry was a member of the Brothers of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (F.S.R.). He worked in the Diocese of Reno in Nevada and taught at Manogue High School from 1974 to 1978 as director of the CYO program. In 1987, he was ordained a Benedictine priest and taught at Delbarton School, a private college prep school for boys, run by the Benedictine monks, in Morristown, New Jersey for 18 years. He was also the chaplain for the Linden Police Department.
According to media reports, in January 2012, Worry was removed from assignment and sent to St. Mary’s Abbey after an allegation of sexual misconduct with an individual was reported in the 1990s. In March 2012, four alleged abuse victims filed a civil lawsuit against Delbarton School and St. Mary’s Abbey. In June 2012, another man joined the existing lawsuit to allege abuse in the 1980s by Worry.
According to media reports, the amended complaint said Worry “sexually assaulted, sexually abused and/or had sexual contact” with the accuser “on numerous occasions”. In one instance, after a night of heavy drinking with the monk, the accuser said he woke up to find Worry fondling him. At the time, the victim was 16 years old.
No criminal charges were filed due to the statute of limitations.
In 2020, Worry was accused in a lawsuit against the Delbarton School filed under the NJ Child Sexual Abuse Act of abusing a 15-year-old boy from 1978-79.
As of 2020, Worry is believed to still be residing on campus. Worry’s 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 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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