Lawmakers, victim advocates call for Seton Hall University president to resign

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (PIX11) -- Just two months into his job as president of Seton Hall University, Monsignor Joseph Reilly is facing pressure to resign.

“It’s problematic from top to bottom,” said Shaun Dougherty, board president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

According to new reporting from POLITICO, Reilly failed to report sexual abuse claims against former Newark Archbishop Theodore McCarrick while serving as dean of Seton Hall’s Immaculate Conception Seminary from 2012-2022.

“How can you appropriately manage, lead a major university, if you’re not following the law by reporting a sexual abuse,” said Ann, a mother whose daughter took classes at Seton Hall.

In 2019, an independent investigation found McCarrick sexually harassed seminary students. The report recommended enhancing oversight of the seminary to prevent recurrence.

Reilly took a sabbatical in 2022 before returning as a vice provost and then becoming president in November 2024.

“Just taking a year off or putting out to pasture for a year and then bringing back and naming them president is just absolutely unacceptable,“ said Dougherty.

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey posted on X that she wants Seton Hall to publicly release the findings of its investigations.

State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, who serves as vice chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, said the solution is simple. 

“Monsignor Reilly should resign immediately, and anyone who helped enable this should also resign,” said Zwicker. 

Seton Hall University and its Board of Regents are standing behind Reilly. 

In a statement to PIX11 News, the university wrote, in part: “Monsignor Reilly prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of students and seminarians at Seton Hall. As president, he shares the University’s unwavering commitment to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all members of our campus community.”

Seton Hall University Board of Regents Chair Hank D’Alessandro wrote, in part: “…the Board of Regents unanimously appointed him to be our priest-president, and we continue to have absolute confidence that he will use his [role] to instill hope and effectively lead the university forward.”

Seton Hall freshman student Alyssa Rask said if the allegations are true, Reilly should leave. “Definitely step down,” said Rask. “It’s not a good look for the school. I definitely don’t want to go to a school where that’s accepted and tolerated.”