Priests With Ties To Livingston Named On Church Sex Abuse List – Livingston, NJ Patch

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Church leaders in the Newark Archdiocese released a list of 63 priests “credibly accused” of child sex abuse on Wednesday, some of which have ties to Livingston.

All of New Jersey’s five dioceses were expected to release individual lists of accused priests at the same time. The Newark Archdiocese – which includes parishes and schools in Hudson, Essex, Bergen and Union counties – made its list public on Wednesday morning.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, said the list includes all those from New Jersey who were credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors dating back to 1940. Read his full statement here.

According to the Newark Archdiocese, priests with connections to Livingston include:

• Robert Alcamo – Born in 1955, ordained in 1980. Served at St. Raphael in Livingston. Allegedly abused one victim. Has been permanently removed from ministry/Laicized.
• Michael Campanlonga – Born in 1936, ordained in 1962. Served at St. Philomena in Livingston. Allegedly abused “multiple” victims. Has been permanently removed from ministry.
• Edward Eilert – Born in 1938, ordained in 1964. Served at St. Philomena in Livingston. Allegedly abused “multiple” victims. Has been permanently removed from ministry.
• John Laferrera – Born in 1947, ordained in 1973. Served at St. Philomena in Livingston. Allegedly abused “multiple” victims. Has been permanently removed from ministry.
• William McCann (deceased) – Born in 1899, ordained in 1925. Served at St. Philomena in Livingston. Allegedly abused “multiple” victims.

“The revelations of clergy sexual abuse of minors throughout this past year have provoked feelings of shock, anger, shame, and deep sorrow throughout our Catholic community,” Cardinal Tobin said. “In an effort to do what is right and just, we are publishing the names of diocesan clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.

“This list of names is the result of an extensive review of Archdiocesan records dating back to 1940. It is our sincerest hope that this disclosure will help bring healing to those whose lives have been so deeply violated. We also pray that this can serve as an initial step in our efforts to help restore trust in the leadership of the Catholic Church.”

Tobin had announced that the Roman Catholic Dioceses in New Jersey were undertaking a complete review of their files so that the names of all priests and deacons who have been credibly accused of the sexual abuse of minors could be made public.

The dioceses are undertaking this action in coordination with the Attorney General of New Jersey’s ongoing task force examining the issue of clergy sexual abuse.

In the same statement, the Archdiocese of Newark and the Dioceses of Camden, Trenton, Paterson and Metuchen said they are committed to the establishment of a “Victim Compensation and Counseling Program.”

This program will provide the resources to compensate those victims of child sexual abuse by clergy and employees of the Dioceses in New Jersey whose financial claims are legally barred by New Jersey’s statute of limitations, according to the statement.

Tobin said the program also will assure that victims who have not received any financial compensation will be paid, regardless of whether their claims meet the time requirements of the statute of limitations.

This article includes reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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