JERSEY CITY, NJ (1010 WINS) -- A Catholic priest in New Jersey has been arrested and charged with criminal sexual contact for allegedly groping a woman in the rectory at his church, prosecutors said Monday.
Donato Cabardo, 56, a priest at St. Paul of the Cross Church in Jersey City, was arrested and charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and one count of harassment on Aug. 14, the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office said Monday.
Prosecutors say Cabardo touched a woman's breasts and buttocks, pressed his cheek against her cheek and kissed her cheek, hand, face and head in the rectory at his church between January and July of this year.
Cabardo was released on a summons complaint after his arrest and is expected to appear in court on Sept. 9, according to prosecutors. His attorney information wasn't immediately available Monday.
In a statement provided to 1010 WINS Monday evening, the Archdiocese of Newark said it "was made aware of the allegations recently, alerted civil authorities, as per policy, and is cooperating fully."
"The Archdiocese of Newark takes seriously all credible complaints of sexual misconduct by members of the clergy, religious, lay staff and volunteers of the Archdiocese of Newark," the statement read.
"Anyone who wishes to report an incident of sexual misconduct committed by a member of the Archdiocese of Newark is encouraged to immediately inform their County Prosecutor and the Archdiocesan Office for the Protection of the Faithful. For more information, visit online at www.rcan.org," the statement added.
