Delburton, an elite all-boys Catholic prep school in New Jersey, is facing serious allegations of sexual abuse involving monks of the Benedictine Order. A former student, referred to as TM, has filed a lawsuit claiming he was sexually assaulted by Pastor Richard Lott in 1975 when he was just 15. This trial, set to begin on September 2nd, will be notable as the first civil case against the Catholic Church in the region.
TM alleges that Lott abused him on campus and facilitated illegal parties for minors. He reported the assault to Abbott Brian Clark after graduating in 1977, but Clark did not act on this information and later destroyed related documentation.
The school has publicly acknowledged at least 30 abuse claims against 13 individuals over a span of 30 years. In 2018, they settled some cases, while others remain unresolved. More than 30 individuals have come forward since the New Jersey Child Victims Act came into effect, which allows victims to file claims regardless of when the abuse occurred.
Former students and their families express concern that some accused monks continue to reside on campus, despite being described as heavily supervised. School officials maintain that these individuals are monitored and have restricted access to students. The situation has sparked significant outrage within the community, with former students describing a culture of silence and complicity.
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