Watch HBO's documentary...mea maxima culpa.

i wonder if there is any dirt on the pope,very odd he is resigning

The Pope has a "history" of sheltering child molestors... Our president has a history of sheltering murderers and terrorists....and gun runners.... Yet this country still swoons for that swine.

Cant wait to see what the parishioners of Visitation come up with now on how to defend this guy..

That is so true. The majority of people who practice a religion do it because either their parents did it or it is popular in the area they live in. And too many of these people still have questions about their own faith they can't get the answers to.

No picture of this guy???

A religion’s purpose is to create illusory fantasies for the poor. Economic realities prevent them from finding true happiness in this life, so religion tells them that this is okay because they will find true happiness in the next life. What nonsense.

Better start letting priests marry or the catholic church will be history in 20 or 30 years. At least in this country. Enough with the phony "celebate" priests. That is unnatural and abnormal.

Its not too hard to find a picture. Ocean county department of corrections, under inmate information, make sure you check the inmates that have been released.

Velan is the last name

I know as parents, we may want to shelter our children from this type of news, but hopefully all parents who have children affiliated with this church will talk with them and ask questions!

An indictment is not a conviction. That determination will be up to a jury to decide. Let the judicial process proceed. So much anti-religion/Catholicism in these posts. Maybe that's why the country is falling apart.... no faith or morality any more! Oh wait, I forgot.... Obama is the new messiah! He will set the new standards for behavior and solve all our woes.

Yes this is terrible, But its NOT just the Church that has this problem 1 in 4 girls are molested ( not to mention males) & that's what reported ( sure the # is even higher) & Its most often close friends or relatives that are doing this.... NOT the priest, not the creepy guy at the park... its the people that are in your home or that you look at everyday as friends Odd that this story is out at the sometime the Pope is stepping down

I see no media bias unless you're Italian and Roman Catholic. Any decent Christian Catholic would want this filth cleaned up and asap! The cover ups need to stop.

I would like to know why did Brick Patch hold onto this story til today! It happened Feb 7th, why wait almost the whole month before posting it??? Is it because today (right now in fact) is the farewell of Pope Benedict XVI??

NOt to mention that there were over 50 arrests over the last few weeks in reference to child porn. Just another side to this issue

This is so disturbing. This is the second time that we the public know of this occurring at this church. If im not mistaken the first occurrence was in 1995. I am sure there are many other unreported cases that the church covered up. My thoughts and support are with the victims. I hope one day the Catholic church puts a stop to all of these horrific events.

Thank God, it wasn't another public school teacher for once. Every day you read about pedophile teachers and their sexual assaults and affairs with their students. Public schools exist only for government brainwashing of the liberal democrat agenda on poor peoples kids. All of the rich smart people send their kids to private schools, including politicians. Even the democrat politicians dont want their kids dumbed down and brainwashed by the public school system.

Bob you are right. But it seems that if you are a female teacher it's okay to have sex with a student. They get off with no jail time. Most of the men just say " Boy do I wish I had a teacher like that when I was in school." That's the problem. Most of the men are judges and they let these women off with a slap on the wrist. So maybe these same men were brought up Catholic and don't want to go to hell if they prosecute these sick men. They protect this all mighty money grubbing powerful church with every last breath. And that's why this so called men of God have been getting away with these ungodly unspeakable acts against innocent children all these years. Because people don't want to believe that such a good man can commit these things. But as we all now it is happening every where, in our homes , schools and churches. We need to wake up and everybody has to be held accountable. No matter if you are male or female. They need to be thrown in jail for these crimes. These are our children, our future, this is why our children are growing up so screwed up. It makes you wonder why these kids are going out and shooting up malls, movie theaters, schools and just any place. Maybe it's because our society is so screwed up. And we are letting "sickos" damaged our children!

Is he a friend of Senator Menendez

I'm a parishoner of Visitation Church and I know Father Chris. I was shocked when this story broke, as were many of my fellow parishoners. I believe in the justice system. If he's guilty.. .he's guilty and will pay. If he's proven innocent, I hope he will be welcomed back by the Diocese. This doesn't shake my faith in the least. Everybody is quick to insult and vilify the Catholic Church, but we all know that child molestation happens everywhere.... like our SCHOOLS! I'm tired of having to listen to and read about people putting down religion. If you don't want to believe then don't. But please stop insinuating that a person of faith is a simpleton. Its Freedom of Religion NOT Freedom from Relgion. And in response to one of the previous posters who wrote that many people go to church because their parents went.... Well, my parents DID NOT attend church regularly.... more like never. I go to Church because "I" choose to go to Church.

The frequency of this problem is no more frequent then society in general.what the church did with the cover up is wrong. However, my love of my faith comes from a longing to seek something more.I made the effort to explore and reexamine things.I believe many people just simply don't make the effort.oh buy the way, neither of my parents were church goers and I have no financial problems to speak of. In my 60s

I agree with brickrez......stop the bashing of the institution and beliefs. I believe and I go because I want to! It is your perogative and God given right to believe or not to believe. Look around society.......sick people all over!

Gotta love it when you point out the many many instances of pedophilia in the Church and get accused of being anti-religion. Sorry, not quite, just anti-child molester and anti-institution that harbors and enables them.

Pedophilia acts in the Catholic Church isn't the only terrible sin going on in it. Add GREED and lots of it! My grandmother was a devout Catholic, she was also very very wealthy. Back in the late 1920's her church decided to build another church as they had outgrown the old one, The new church was a mini St. Patrick's all stone and very Gothic. My grandmother bought that church it's very large pipe organ, it was the largest in the state at the time and cost over $100,000 which was a lot of money back in those days, she also donated funds for two Tiffany stained glass windows. Those weren't cheap either. My grandmother also donated a large sum of money to that church every year for the maintenance of that organ which wasn't cheap and became more expensive as the years went by. Many years pass and my grandmother has a near fatal heart attack, the priest from that church was called to give the Last Rites, HE REFUSED, WHY? Because my grandmother and grandfather were married outside of the church, My grandfather was Episcopal and she was Catholic and the priest stated they were basically living in sin. WELL THAT DIDN'T STOP THEM FROM ACCEPTING THE ORGAN AND STAINED GLASS WINDOWS NOW DID IT! My father begged that priest to perform the rite I mean begged! The answer was NO. Amazing, they can hide pedophiles but couldn't bend the rules for a dying old lady! She survived, my grandfather converted at 78 yrs old, they left that church, should have been sooner in my eyes!

This was only a matter of time, more will be coming forward.

Religion is total bs and harmful that's why I'm an anti-theist not an atheist.

It's all the work of humans, it's 2013 how do you people still have fish hooks in your mouths?

SAVE LIVES - KILL RELIGION

I'm having a little trouble with this.

I can see a priest touching an adult parishioner inappropriately.
I can see a priest touching a kid inappropriately.

But I'm having a real problem believing that a priest visits a parishioner to provide comfort or solace, and then proceeds to touch a kid and an adult parishioner inappropriately in the same day. In the same visit.

Really??

And I ain't no fan of the catholic church right about now.

What is the matter with these people? Cant they keep it to themselves instead of overstepping boundries to the public in immoral ways like molestation. Something is definately mentally wrong with them, especially when good upstanding careers and reputations as a priest, coach, teacher or whatever is at stake , because they could not contain impulses.

It seems now these priests are guilty until proven innocent due to recent scandals

I don't care how devout a Catholic you are. If anyone can't see an ugly pattern of abuse and cover up, you have to have your head in the sand. Does not mean all priests are offenders, but it is a very disturbing situation, to say the least..

Sal, I agree he should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. You must be aware, however, that the church has a history of moving offenders from one diocese to another to shield predators. This is the "cover up" to which I am referring. It is consistent with the handling of accusations.

I remember years ago when a parishioner of that church was bombarded with hate mail from other members. It was a disgrace.

Well, now i know why they need the money from the proposed cemetery. Perhaps the Church should implement more effective screening assessments for such tendencies prior to being ordained. Why not be more proactive? Many professions that interact with other humans require psychological testing. Maybe this already happens? I do not know, but if so, the assessment tool requires some fine-tuning.