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New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
NJ probe could uncover details of clergy abuse at Delbarton school
Disturbing details of clergy abuse at the elite Delbarton school in New Jersey could be made public thanks to a recent court decision — placing the spotlight on a former top church leader who could be the state's next cardinal, The Post has learned. Auxiliary Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo — a potential successor to Newark Cardinal Joseph Tobin, who will reach the mandatory retirement age in May 2027 — served for three decades as a teacher and clergy leader at the all-boys Catholic school in Morristown. During his time, at least 30 students came forward with sexual abuse allegations against Delbarton clergy, the Survivors Network of those Abused By Priests said — some with lurid claims of being brutally abused hundreds of times by Benedictine monks. Advertisement 6 A recent court ruling allowing for a new grand jury investigation into clergy sex abuse could shine a light on a slew of alleged abuse at the elite private Delbarton School. Facebook/Delbarton School In June, the state's top court ruled that a new grand jury investigation into clerical abuse across the state can move forward — which insiders say will include examining claims of a cover-up at the exclusive school. The Camden Diocese battled to block the investigation in court for seven years but announced they were dropping the fight in May, according to Advertisement 'From what I know, it would make sense for them to include Delbarton in the investigation,' New Jersey State Senator Joe Vitale told The Post of the grand jury investigation. 'You would certainly want to know how leadership played a role in all of that,' Vitale said. 'And everyone who played a role at Delbarton at the time that abuse was alleged to have occurred should be part of the discussion.' A similar grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania in 2018 revealed that over 1,000 children had been victims of clergy abuse, the AP reported. It was considered the most extensive examination of a state's Catholic clergy abuse at the time. 6 Bishop Elias Lorenzo was a top clerical leader at Delbarton as sex abuse accusations piled on, and could be Newark's next cardinal. Saint Vincent Seminary Advertisement Delbarton — a Benedictine Catholic middle and high school in tony Morristown where tuition is $48,725 a year — boasts a long list of famous alumni, including 'Game of Thrones' star Peter Dinklage, Yankees starting shortstop Anthony Volpe and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's sons. But for the last decade and a half, the school has been in the news over sex abuse allegations against several clergy members at the school — including a former headmaster. Most recently, a 2021 lawsuit filed by a former student claims that he was raped and abused more than 150 times by a trio of monks as a Delbarton seventh grader in the 1970s. 6 Cardinal Joseph William Tobin will reach his mandatory retirement age in 2027. Grzegorz Galazka/SIPA / Shutterstock Advertisement Lorenzo served as Prior at St. Mary's Abbey — the second-in-command of the Benedictine order that oversees the school — from 1995 until 2002, and later served as the rector of the Abbey Church and on an abuse review board until 2008. He also taught at the school during this time. A spokesperson for Delbarton said that Lorenzo was never part of decision-making on the review board but did not respond to other questions asked by The Post. Delbarton released a public letter in 2018, acknowledging that 30 victims claimed they were abused by 13 clergy members at the school. But survivors have long accused the school of waging a campaign to silence them, according to Victim Tom Crane, whose lawsuit was settled in 2018, told the Daily Record that he endured a 'nightmare of intimidation' after filing the suit claiming he and his brother were sexually abused by two Delbarton monks in the 1970s. 6 The Archdiocese did not comment on Bishop Lorenzo's behalf, but said the process to appoint a cardinal is 'a complex, confidential and lengthy one.' for New York Post His attorney Gregory Gianforcaro, who currently represents 31 plaintiffs against Delbarton and nearly 50 victims total, said prosecutors are certain to include the school in the new grand jury investigation. 'I am confident that once the results of this investigation are public that there's going to be a lot of information that will surface about the survivors,' Gianforcaro told The Post. Advertisement The New Jersey Attorney General's Office told The Post that it could not confirm or deny any details about the investigation, and the Archdiocese of Newark said the AG's Office has not contacted them. In 2020, the late Pope Francis appointed Lorenzo — along with two others — as Auxiliary Bishops of Newark. 6 Former Delbarton students who have made public sex abuse claims and lawsuits have long held that the school waged a campaign to silence them. Facebook/Delbarton School Advertisement When current Cardinal Tobin reaches his mandatory retirement age in 2027, insiders said Lorenzo will be among four bishops who could be in contention for the prestigious role. The Archdiocese's office did not comment on Lorenzo's behalf, but said the process to appoint a cardinal is 'a complex, confidential and lengthy one.' One organization — Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP — is calling for Lorenzo to be removed from consideration entirely, claiming in a statement last week that he was 'complicit in the cover-up at Delbarton.' 6 'It is unacceptable that someone who held authority during decades when so many students were being preyed upon should now be considered for further promotion,' said Mark Crawford, a coordinator for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Getty Images Advertisement 'Bishop Lorenzo's rise cannot erase the pain experienced by Delbarton survivors,' said Mark Crawford, SNAP's New Jersey coordinator. 'It is unacceptable that someone who held authority during decades when so many students were being preyed upon should now be considered for further promotion. 'Our members demand transparency and accountability,' Crawford added. 'Under Lorenzo's watch, children were abused by wolves in sheep's clothing.'
Reuters
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Cardinal Prevost put his head in his hands as papacy loomed
VATICAN CITY, May 9 (Reuters) - As U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost realized during the secret conclave that he might be elected the next Catholic pope, he put his head in his hands at the daunting prospect of leading the 1.4-billion-member Church, a cardinal said on Friday. New Jersey Cardinal Joseph Tobin, one of the other 132 clerics locked inside the Sistine Chapel with Prevost for the conclave, said he looked at the future pope during one of the last ballots. "I took a look at Bob, because his name had been floating around and he had his head in his hands," Tobin said, using Prevost's nickname. "I was praying for him, because I couldn't imagine what happens to a human being when you're facing something like that." "And then when he accepted, it was like he was made for it," said Tobin. "Whatever anguish was resolved. I think … God had made something clear and he agreed with it." Tobin was speaking at a press conference with six other cardinals, in their first public comments since the election of Prevost as Pope Leo XIV on Thursday evening. Leo, a largely unknown figure on the world stage, is a former U.S. missionary in Peru who was a senior Vatican official for the past two years. The cardinals offered small insights into the secretive conclave process and even joked about the food. New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan called it a "good, good, good, good impetus to get this over with." They also speculated about how Leo, the first U.S. pope, might engage with President Donald Trump. Dolan said he did not think Prevost's nationality "had much weight" in the cardinals' decision. "It should not startle us that we should look to Pope Leo as a bridge builder," said Dolan. "Will he want to build bridges with Donald Trump? I suppose. But he will want to build bridges with the leader of every nation." The late Pope Francis was a sharp critic of Trump, saying earlier this year that the president's plan to deport millions of migrants in the U.S. was a "disgrace". Asked whether Leo will act like Francis and openly criticize the Trump administration's policies, the cardinals demurred. "We were looking for someone following the pathway of Francis, but we were not looking for a photocopy," said Washington, D.C. Cardinal Robert McElroy. Cardinal Wilton Gregory, McElroy's now retired predecessor in Washington, said it was important to give Leo "space to grow into the office." Gregory added a joke: "He's never been pope before."
Irish Examiner
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
As Born In The USA plays, American cardinals in Rome celebrate Pope Leo XIV
Speakers blasted songs including Born In The USA and American Pie as six cardinal electors from the United States gathered in Rome to share their thoughts on the election of the first US-born pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost. 'I took a look at Bob and he had his head in his hands and I was praying for him,' said Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the moment right after casting his vote in the Sistine Chapel. 'And then when he accepted, it was like it was made for him.' From left, US cardinals Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the USA, Robert McElroy of Washington, Wilton Gregory, archbishop emeritus of Washington, Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Newark, Timothy Dolan of NY, and Daniel Di Nardo, archbishop One day after Chicago-born Cardinal Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the cardinals met on a stage decorated with the Stars and Stripes and a Vatican flag at the Pontifical North American College. The hilltop institution for US seminarians is a short walk from St Peter's Basilica, where Leo made his first speech to the world on Thursday evening as the new leader of the Catholic Church's 1.4 billion global faithful. The United States had 10 voting cardinals in the conclave, the second-highest number of any country. Four of them currently serve as archbishops in the US: Cardinal Tobin of Newark, New Jersey; Timothy Dolan of New York; Blase Cupich of Chicago; and Robert McElroy of Washington. 'In a very real sense, Cardinal Prevost has been in his life at his core a real missionary, in every way,' Cardinal McElroy said. Joining them were retired archbishops Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston in Texas, and Wilton Gregory of Washington, as well as French Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States. The official document attesting the acceptance by Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, of his election (Vatican Media via AP) Several of the men referred to the man they have known for years as Bob or Robert by his papal name, Leo. Others said that his American nationality was not a factor – he also holds Peruvian citizenship. Cardinals were most concerned with 'who among us can bring us together, who among us can strengthen the faith and bring the faith to places where it has grown weak', said Cardinal Gregory.
Newsweek
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Could the Next Pope Be American? These Are the Dark-Horse Contenders
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As the College of Cardinals readies to select the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church, several strong candidates have emerged, although veteran observers say the next pontiff is unlikely to be American. The top contenders to succeed Pope Francis and lead the church's roughly 1.4 billion followers include Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, among others. While Francis made history as the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, continuing that narrative of change with the selection of a candidate from the United States appears highly improbable, despite the U.S. having one of the largest Roman Catholic populations in the world. Ten of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel when the conclave begins Wednesday hail from the U.S., second only to Italy, which has 17 electors. Three of those Americans — Cardinals Joseph Tobin, Timothy Dolan and Raymond Burke — could garner influence in Wednesday's conclave, but still appear unlikely to succeed Francis, who died on April 21 at age 88. The ten U.S. cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope of the Catholic Church, top row from left: Raymond Burke, Blase Cupich, Daniel DiNardo, Timothy Dolan and Kevin Farrell; bottom row from left, Wilton... The ten U.S. cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope of the Catholic Church, top row from left: Raymond Burke, Blase Cupich, Daniel DiNardo, Timothy Dolan and Kevin Farrell; bottom row from left, Wilton Gregory, James Michael Harvey, Robert McElroy, Robert Francis Prevost and Joseph Tobin. More AP Photo Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, is a strong candidate for the progressive wing of the voting bloc, according to some experts, as he speaks five languages and is known for welcoming Catholics from the LGBTQ+ community. Pope Benedict XVI appointed the Detroit native in 2010 as secretary of the Vatican's office overseeing religious orders, where he sought to mend ties with U.S. nuns facing complaints that they had become too liberal. Tobin questioned the probe and was later reassigned to Indianapolis, where he became an archbishop in 2012. Four years later, Pope Francis tapped him to become a cardinal and archbishop of Newark. David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, believes Tobin possesses strong qualities to lead the Roman Catholic Church, however unlikely his candidacy ultimately may be. "If you look at Tobin's profile, he's perfect," Gibson told Newsday. Cardinal Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, is considering to be a compelling candidate by some observers, although isn't widely expected to become the next pope. Cardinal Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, is considering to be a compelling candidate by some observers, although isn't widely expected to become the next the primary hurdle for Tobin and other Americans like Dolan and Burke remains the United States' global dominance, as has traditionally been the case, Gibson said. "You didn't want to have an American pope, given that you had an American superpower," Gibson said. "It was just too much concentrated [power]." John Thavis, Rome's bureau chief for the Catholic News Service, agreed with Gibson's take regarding Tobin. "I very much doubt it," Thavis told Newsday. "I don't think the world of the church is ready for an American pope." Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, leads a mass at Saint John Lateran on May 2 in Rome, Italy, where he traveled following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, leads a mass at Saint John Lateran on May 2 in Rome, Italy, where he traveled following the death of Pope Francis on April percent of Americans believe it doesn't matter where the next pope comes from, according to a YouGov poll taken hours after Pope Francis' death. Thirteen percent of respondents said they were unsure, while 11 percent said they'd prefer an American. Dolan, the 75-year-old archbishop of New York, reportedly received votes during the 2013 conclave that elected Francis, but isn't expected to be a major factor this time around. Read more New Pope update: Latest odds on who will replace Francis New Pope update: Latest odds on who will replace Francis "I don't think so," the Rev. Thomas Reese, a senior analyst for Religion News Service, told Newsday, adding he had not heard "any buzz" surrounding Dolan. "Certainly would have been an interesting pope," Thavis said. "But I think that time has come and gone." Dolan, for his part, downplayed the possibility of becoming the next pontiff as he prepared to travel from New York to Rome late last month for Francis' funeral and the coming conclave. "Oh, I'm not betting the lunch money on it, so I hope nobody else does," he told the New York Times prior to his flight. "I got a better chance at batting cleanup for the Yankees than I do being pope." Burke, a Catholic traditionalist who frequently clashed with Francis, is also seen as a potential candidate, but is likely to ultimately fall short of the necessary two-third majority vote, analysts said. "It will not be another Latin American, it will most likely not be an American, but this could be the wild card," Melissa Wilde, a sociologist of religion and inequality and chairperson of the Department of Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, told USA Today. "I would say Asian or African, if not one of them, American, if not one of them, an Italian." The Rev. James Bretzke, a professor of theology at John Carroll University in Ohio, predicted Burke might garner a few votes in the early rounds before disappearing "totally from the tallies after that" as cardinals switch to other conservatives gaining more momentum. Cardinal Raymond Burke at St. Peter's Basilica in June 2018. Cardinal Raymond Burke at St. Peter's Basilica in June Dolan and Burke may have insurmountable odds against them simply due to their nationality, Bretzke said. Italians have traditionally been viewed within the church as diplomats, making them more appealing across ethic groups, though that appears to be waning, he said. There has not been an Italian pope since John Paul I, who was elected in 1978. He died 33 days into his papacy. "[T]hese considerations will continue, in my opinion, to prevent any American from being elected the next pope, even if otherwise he might be well qualified," Bretzke told USA Today. "America's image in the world simply is too powerful — and to be blunt, ugly." Tobin could become an intriguing wild card if the conclave lasts several days and none of the higher-profile candidates reach the required two-third threshold, Thavis said. "Then somebody like Cardinal Tobin could be in play," he told Newsday. Other observers said Tobin would likely be a factor — if he wasn't an American. "If he was an Italian, he would be a candidate," Reese said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
