TRENTON, N.J. — Sex abuse victims required to keep quiet by settlement agreements can speak publicly about their ordeals, New Jersey Catholic Church officials said Tuesday. The New Jersey Catholic Conference said earlier this week the church has no objection if victims want to speak out. The group, which represents the state’s bishops on policy matters, came after Democratic state Sen. Joe Vitale called on the church to release abuse victims from confidentiality agreements. The conference said Newark Archbishop Cardinal Joseph Tobin and the state’s bishops won’t object if victims with such deals from before 2002 come forward. Catholic dioceses in other states have also said victims are free to speak.

Source: National Post September 19, 2018 16:27 UTC