Here Are 9 Lawrenceville Priests On Credibly Accused List

LAWRENCEVILLE NJ — The journalism site ProPublica, a Patch Partner, recently released the most comprehensive list so far of Catholic clergy "credibly accused" of sexual abuse. The list includes nine accused abusers with ties to Lawrenceville. The Diocese of Trenton didn’t reveal the nature of the allegations against any of the priests.

The searchable database — which includes nearly 200 priests accused from the dioceses of Metuchen, Newark, Trenton, Camden and Paterson — comes on the heels of various reports identifying hundreds of "predator" priests across the state. Read more here: Full List Released Of NJ Catholic Clergy Accused Of Sex Assault

Here are the priests on the ProPublic list with Lawrenceville ties:

Gregory Vaughan
Vaughan held the following positions in Lawrenceville:

• Diocesan Vicar for Catholic Education, Chancery;
• Chancellor of the Diocese of Trenton, Chancery, Lawrenceville
• Moderator, Diocesan Curia, Chancery, Lawrenceville
• Vicar General of the Diocese of Trenton, Chancery, Lawrenceville
• Director, Office of Vocations, Chancery, Lawrenceville

He was born in 1946 and ordained in 1965. He has been removed from the ministry. He was serving at the Church of St. Catharine in Holmdel when he was first accused last year, according to The Asbury Park Press. The allegations date to his time serving in Keansburg in the 1970s and 1980s.The allegations fell outside the statute of limitations, so he wasn't charged, according to Monmouth Musings. He denies the allegations.

Thomas J. Frain
Frain served at St. Ann in Lawrenceville, and was the Assistant Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Chancery, Lawrenceville. He was born in 1921 and ordained in 1948. He has since passed away.

Richard C. Brietske
Brietske held the following positions in Lawrenceville:

• Director, Office of Evangelization, Chancery, Lawrenceville
• Director, Office of Parish Life, Chancery, Lawrenceville
• Chancellor of the Diocese of Trenton, Chancery, Lawrenceville

He was born in 1936 and ordained in 1962. He has been removed from the ministry, although it is not clear when.

Terence McAlinden
McAlinden served at Chancery in Lawrenceville. He was born in 1940 and ordained in 1965. He has since passed away. Four men accused him of abuse dating back to 1969, according to a website that tracks bishop accountability. He reached settlements with all four men.

Joseph Punderson
Punderson was a chaplain at Morris Hall in Lawrenceville, among many other parishes across South Jersey. He was born in 1948 and ordained in 1976. He has been removed from the ministry.

William McKeon
McKeon was a chaplain at Morris Hall in Lawrenceville, among many other parishes across South Jersey. He was born in 1947 and ordained in 1969. He has been removed from the ministry, although it is not clear when.

Andrew Dittrich
Dittirch served at Rider College from 1977-89. He has since passed away. The accusations pre-date his time at Rider, according to a website that tracks bishop accountability. After Rider, he moved onto Rutgers University. Further allegations stem from his time there.

Douglas Hermansen

Hermansen was the chaplain at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, as well as multiple other parishes across South Jersey. He was born in 1952 and ordained in 1979. He has been removed from the ministry.

Frank Iazetta
Iazetta served at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, as well as other parishes across South Jersey. He was born in 1942 and ordained in 1967. He has since passed away.

Along with the list, ProPublica outlines the challenges of identifying offenders long after such widespread abuse became known.

Nearly 200 names on a list of sex offenders in the clergy were also named by the Catholic Church last year. Here is the list released by the Catholic Church in February 2019: Here's List Of NJ Priests Accused Of Child Sexual Abuse (UPDATED)

In April 2019, 52 Boy Scout leaders who worked in New Jersey and were accused of sexual abuse were named by attorneys who represent victims. Read more: 52 NJ Boy Scout Leaders Accused Of Sexual Abuse Named

Then, in May 2019, the names of more than 100 additional priests and members of the clergy were also released in a new disclosure. Read more: Another 100 NJ Priests, Clergy Accused Of Sex Abuse In Disclosure