Father Paul Daleo
Archdiocese of Newark
Ordained: 1977
Left Order: 2003
Assigned as follows:
- 1978 St. Mary’s Hospital (Passaic, NJ)
- 1978-1982 St. Edmond’s Academy (Wilmington, DE)
- 1979-1985 Capuchin Franciscan Friars St. Francis Renewal Center (Wilmington, DE)
- 1986-1992 Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Passaic, NJ)
- 1993 Our Lady of Guadalupe friary (Union City, NJ)
- 1994 Unknown
- 1995-2003 Capuchin Friars Province Stigmata of St. Francis (Union City, NJ)
- 2003 Leave of absence
- 2004-2019 Unknown
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Paul Daleo:
According to media reports, Father Paul Daleo, a member of the Capuchin Franciscans religious order, who served in the Archdiocese of Newark. He served in multiple parishes throughout his career. According to media reports, in 1993, he was accused of molesting two minor children. When confronted by officials, they said he was “remorseful”. He was removed from ministry, and sent for treatment. Upon his return, he was reassigned to an office job. Both claims were settled confidentially. One was settled for $100,000 in 1995, and the other was settled in 1996 for an undisclosed amount.
In 2003, Father Daleo left the order, reportedly because he was unwilling to live by newly adopted restrictions U.S. bishops implemented after the clergy sexual abuse scandal made national headlines.
In May 2008, a man filed suit alleging that he was abused for four years by Father Daleo from 1978 to 1982, while he was a student at St. Edmond’s Academy, a private Catholic school. Father Daleo worked as a guidance counselor, vice principal and chaplain at the school. According to the lawsuit, the priest molested and sexually abused him from the age of 9 to 12. One incident of abuse occurred in a bathroom stall while Father Daleo was dressed in a clown suit for a school event.
The victim’s father recalled a night when his young son couldn’t sleep. When he asked what was wrong, the boy said,
“Dad, “I wish I was dead.”
Despite his father pressing to know why, the boy stopped talking.
“I’ve had bulimia ever since I was abused,” the victim said. “It’s something I have to fight every day. Not a day goes by that I’m not burdened about thinking about it.”
In November 2008, Father Daleo was no longer preaching, but was working privately, performing baptisms, funeral rites and weddings.
Another man filed a civil suit against Father Daleo in March 2009. The suit alleged he was sexually abused from 1978 to 1979, when he was 16 and 17 years old.
“This was a trusted family friend who ingratiated himself into the family and an institutional culture that believes in containing scandal rather than keeping children safe,”said the man’s attorney.
In December 2011, a total of nine victims settled their claims against Father Daleo as part of a $7 million total settlement.
His 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 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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