Deacon Carlos Guzman

Diocese of Paterson

Ordained (diaconate): 1981

Removed: 1991

Assigned as follows:

St. John Cathedral (Paterson, NJ)
Our Lady of Victories

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Deacon Carlos Guzman:

The Diocese of Paterson removed Dn. Carlos Guzman from a diaconate training program after multiple allegations of abuse surfaced.

In 1993, Guzman was convicted and served eight months of a nine-month jail sentence for touching and kissing the 8-year-old son of a family friend in Paterson, New Jersey.

In a 2004 civil suit, Guzman was credibly accused of abusing at least two more victims. The alleged abuse happened from the 1970s-early 1980s, while Guzman served as Deacon at Our Lady of Victories and St. John's Cathedral.

One of the victims alleged the abuse happened when he was an altar boy between the ages of 11 and 16. The victim had gone to Guzman seeking help because he was also being abused by his parish priest, who was later convicted.

According to media reports, another adult man claimed he was raped by Guzman at a 1978 event in Paterson that was sponsored by the Holy Rosary parish of Dover. He said he told a priest about it in 1996. "His response was, 'Don't worry about him; they moved him somewhere else," the victim said.

Guzman's name appears on the Diocese of Paterson's list of credibly accused priests, published in February 2019.

Guzman's current whereabouts are unknown. According to the Diocese of Paterson, he is still alive.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Paterson in New Jersey. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in New Jersey, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Paterson 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.

Deacon Carlos Guzman – Diocese of Paterson