Monsignor John Morel
Archdiocese of Newark
Ordained: 1955
Died: 2016
Assignment History:
- St. Aloysius (Newark, NJ)
- St. Lucy (Newark, NJ)
- St. Michael (Jersey City, NJ)
- Hackensack Hospital (Hackensack, NJ)
- St. Anthony of Padua (Newark, NJ)
- Holy Family (Union City, NJ)
- Nativity (Midland Park, NJ)
- St. Andrew (Westwood, NJ)
- Our Lady of the Assumption (Bayonne, NJ)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Monsignor John Morel:
Monsignor John Morel's name first appeared on the Archdiocese of Newark's list of accused priests published in February 2019. Almost no information on the allegations against each priest, including age/gender of the victims, or the priest's assignment at the time of the alleged abuse was disclosed. However, according to the Archbishop of Newark, in the case of each priest on the list, "the Archdiocese of Newark received information concerning possible misconduct by the individual, investigated the matter for corroborating evidence and determined that the report was credible. Accordingly, while those individuals may deny having engaged in illegal behavior involving a minor and they are entitled to be presumed innocent in a criminal court of law, the Archdiocese has determined that the information it received was credible and it has thus included their names on this disclosure."
All the Archdiocese of Newark said about Father Morel is that he was the subject of "multiple" credible allegations of sexual abuse. According to news reports, in 1993, a man reported to the Diocese of Camden that Father Morel abused him from 1973-1981. The Monsignor was placed on administrative leave at the time the allegation was made.
According to media reports, in 1995, Monsignor Morel pleaded guilty to harassment by touching and was sentenced to six months of probation and counseling. He retired from the priesthood voluntarily in 1997. It does not appear that he was laicized (removed from the priesthood).
In January 2021, Monsignor Morel was accused in another case of sexually abusing a 10-year-old victim from 1963 to 1970 while serving at Holy Family Church in Union City, NJ. He died in May 2016.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Newark in New Jersey. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused in the Archdiocese of Newark, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Newark now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in New Jersey and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.