Msgr. Lawrence Donovan – Diocese of Trenton

| Jul 8, 2021 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Monsignor Lawrence Donovan

Diocese of Trenton

Ordained: Approx. 1937

Died: 1987

Assigned as follows:

  • 1938-1940: St. Mary’s Church (Bordertown, NJ)
  • 1941-1942: St. Mary’s Church (Perth, NJ)
  • 1943-1944: St. John the Evangelist Church (Dunellen, NJ)
  • 1945-1946: St. Joseph’s Church (Trenton, NJ)
  • 1947: St. Michael’s Children’s Home (Hopewell, NJ)
  • 1948-1949:  St. James the Less Church (Jamesburg, NJ)
  • 1950-1987: St. Joseph’s Church (Toms River, NJ)
  • 1981-1982: “Serra Club”
  • 1983: “Monmouth County Chapter”
  • 1984-1987: “Serra Club”

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Monsignor Lawrence Donovan:

Msgr. Lawrence Donovan was ordained a priest in approximately 1937 and served in the Diocese of Trenton. He served in multiple parishes throughout his career. According to a list maintained by Bishop Accountability.org, he was accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy on at least two occasions in
1946. At the time of the alleged sexual abuse, Donovan was assigned to St. Joseph’s Church in Trenton, New Jersey, where the boy served as an altar boy.

Donovan reportedly exposed his own penis to the boy, fondled the boy’s penis and testicles over the boy’s clothing, and sodomized the boy. The claimant passed away prior to the resolution of his claim. The case was settled on behalf of the claimant’s estate in 2020.

Donovan died in 1987.

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