The Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, which oversees Seton Hall University, has launched a third-party review to assess whether Monsignor Joseph Reilly, the university’s new president, “acted appropriately” in connection with the 2019 sex abuse scandal involving defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
“Questions have been raised about internal reports concerning the actions and behavior of Theodore McCarrick and an investigation into those reports authorized by the Board of Regents over five years ago. In those reports, there are references to Monsignor Joseph Reilly, who was appointed President of Seton Hall by the Board of Regents in 2024. Questions have been raised about whether Monsignor Reilly acted appropriately,” Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, said in a statement.
The review comes after a report in Politico, the news site, revealed that a 2019 internal investigation found Reilly was aware of the sexual abuse allegations against the disgraced former cardinal, but never reported them.
In recent weeks, state and federal lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th), a candidate for governor, and who represents the district where Seton Hall is located, called for the university to publicly address the matter.
An external law firm, hired by the diocese, will review that 2019 report. The university and its board of regents have agreed to fully cooperate with the external review.
“I have not placed a timetable on this review by Ropes & Gray, nor have I restricted the firm from exploring any relevant facts or avenue of investigation. A transparent review of the facts will best serve the interests of all involved and of those who have voiced a call for it,” Cardinal Tobin said in his statement.
