A support group for victims of sexual abuse by priests has been told it no longer will be allowed to meet at St. Joseph's parish, where it has been holding meetings for the past five years.Monsignor Joseph Anginoli, pastor of the parish, said in a letter to the local chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, that the building where it meets is being renovated to accommodate a pre-kindergarten program.
"This is effective immediately," Anginoli said in the letter.
Church officials say the move was made solely because of space restrictions.
"That's a letter that has been sent to many organizations over time in many places," said Marianna Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Paterson Roman Catholic Diocese.
"This is not being done in response to any action of the group. ... Father has a right to use the space any way he sees fit."
Victims advocates characterized the letter as a cold eviction notice and said it reflects a lack of concern for victims on the part of church leaders.
They also said the timing of the notice was symbolic for them.
This Thursday marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Dallas Charter, a document signed by American bishops during a conference at the height of a scandal involving the sexual abuse of children by some priests and a cover up by some bishops.
St. Joseph's Church -- where victims' advocates say more than a dozen children were molested decades ago by a former pastor, James T. Hanley -- is the site of a memorial to victims of clerical abuse.
Hanley, who was defrocked in 2003, has admitted to abusing at least a dozen children at three parishes, including St. Joseph's. The Paterson Diocese paid $5 million two years ago to settle a lawsuit by more than two dozen victims of clerical abuse, many saying they were victims of Hanley.
The Mendham parish became known five years ago as a welcoming place for victims under the leadership of Monsignor Kenneth Lasch, a nationally-known victims' advocate who retired as pastor three years ago.
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