New Jersey can have a grand jury examine allegations of clergy sexually abusing children, the state’s Supreme Court ruled Monday, after a Catholic diocese that had tried for years to block such proceedings recently reversed course.  No one should be protected from sex abuse.

     The Diocese of Camden previously had argued that a court rule prevents the state attorney general from impaneling a grand jury to issue findings in the state’s investigation into decades of allegations against church officials. But the diocese notified the court in early May that it would no longer oppose that. Camden Bishop Joseph Williams, who took over the diocese in March, said he’d met with stakeholders in the diocese and there was unanimous consent to end the church’s opposition to the grand jury.  The seven-member Supreme Court concluded such a grand jury inquiry is allowed.

     "Courts cannot presume the outcome of an investigation in advance or the contents of a presentment that has not yet been written,” the court wrote in an opinion joined by all seven justices. “We find that the State has the right to proceed with its investigation and present evidence before a special grand jury.”  The state attorney general’s office praised the decision in an emailed statement and said it’s committed to supporting survivors of sexual abuse.

     “We are grateful for the New Jersey Supreme Court’s decision this morning confirming what we have maintained throughout this lengthy court battle: that there was no basis to stop the State from pursuing a grand jury presentment on statewide sexual abuse by clergy,” First Assistant Attorney General Lyndsay V. Ruotolo said in an emailed statement.  The Camden Diocese is still committed to cooperating with the effort, it said in a statement.