Sexual Abuse Allegations at Saint Peter’s Preparatory School
Hudson County, New Jersey
Founded: 1872
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey
Grades: 9 through 12
Saint Peter’s Preparatory School is a private all-male, Jesuit college preparatory school located in Hudson County. The school is made up of 72 faculty members, including 5 Jesuit priests. It has a student population of approximately 900 students per year.
In January 2019, a list of 50 Jesuit priests in the Northeast Province was published identifying those accused of child sexual abuse during their ministry. 10 of the priests worked in New Jersey at some point in their career. Nine out of those ten priests served at either Saint Peter’s Prep School, Saint Peter’s University or at Saint Peter’s Parish in Jersey City. Many of the priests have been the subject of civil lawsuits. Some left the Jesuits, and some are now deceased. The list did not include details about the allegations, the number of victims, or the priests’ assignments at the time of the alleged abuse.
Fr. Cornelius Carr was among those who were accused and served at Saint Peter’s Prep School from 1954 to 1959. A complaint was made in 2005, and alleged that he had been abusing multiple minors from 1989 to 1990. He was later removed from ministry and died in 2013.
Fr. Thomas Denny served at Saint Peter’s Prep from 1986 to 1992 and was listed as being accused in 2002 and 2012 of sexually abusing minors. He was removed from ministry in 2002.
Fr. Joseph Fitzpatrick served at Saint Peter’s Prep from 1967 to 1969 and was accused of abusing minors in the 1980s. The allegations were found credible and he was removed from ministry in 2002.
Fr. Raymond Fullman was another name on the list, and he served at Saint Peter’s Prep from 1964 to 1965. In 2009, he was accused of sexual abuse of minors going all the way back to 1954. He has been listed as deceased as of 1987.
Fr. James Gould served at Saint Peter’s from 1969 to 1971, and was accused in 2011 of sexually abusing a minor. He admitted to the abuse and was later removed from ministry in 2012.
Fr. James Kuntz served in Jersey City from 1984 to 1988 and later moved to the university in 2004. He pleaded guilty to child pornography charges and was sentenced to prison in 2008 and left the Jesuits in 2012.
Fr. Eugene O’Brien was also included on the list and served at St. Peter’s Prep School from 1959 to 1960. He was accused in 1993 of abuse of minors in the 1960’s. He admitted to the abuse and was removed from ministry in 2002.
Fr. Anthony Paone served at Saint Peter’s from 1939 to 1942 and he was accused in 2002 of abusing a minor in 1953. He is listed as deceased as of 1990.
Fr. William Scanlon served at Saint Peter’s University from 1974 to 1976 and was accused in 1994 of abusing minors. He admitted to the abuse and was restricted from ministry and later removed completely.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse in New Jersey. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused in New Jersey, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those sexually abused by teachers, coaches, and administrators in New Jersey private schools now have legal options to get justice and compensation, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our law firm offers free consultations and always works on a contingency basis.
Contact us at (954) 641-2100 or [email protected] to discuss your case today.