Controversy Erupts Over Seton Hall University’s New President Amid Investigation Review
Newark, NJ – The Archdiocese of Newark, led by Cardinal Joseph Tobin, has initiated a review of a 2019 investigation into allegations of sexual abuse connected to Seton Hall University, focusing on the controversial appointment of Monsignor Joseph Reilly as the school’s president.
Tobin has engaged law firm Ropes & Gray LLP to conduct a comprehensive third-party review of the earlier investigation by Latham & Watkins, which scrutinized the actions of former Newark Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, who has been implicated in sexual abuse scandals. The confidential report reportedly raised concerns about Reilly’s failure to report allegations of sexual abuse on campus while he was employed there.
The ongoing discourse has prompted notable reactions from New Jersey lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill and state Senators Andrew Zwicker and Joseph Vitale, who have called for Seton Hall to release the findings of the 2019 report, questioning Reilly’s fitness to lead the university. Zwicker and Vitale labeled Reilly’s alleged conduct as “utterly atrocious and absolutely unacceptable.”
Cardinal Tobin emphasized that the review by Ropes & Gray will investigate how the findings from previous reports relate to Reilly and whether the appropriate parties at the Archdiocese and Seton Hall were informed. The review will benefit from the cooperative assistance of the Gibbons law firm.
Tobin stated that no timeline has been established for the review process, prioritizing a transparent exploration of the facts to address the concerns raised by the community. As criticism mounts, the future of Reilly’s leadership at Seton Hall remains uncertain.
For updates on this developing story, follow Brianna Kudisch at NJ.com.
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