Diocese: Diocese of Trenton
Notes:
From India, became U.S. citizen. Worked in diocese since 1998 but still assigned to diocese in India. Accused in 2005 of improperly touching an 11-yr-old girl. Removed from duties. In 2/06 a grand jury dismissed the charges. State AG expunged his record so there would be no trace of the accusation or charge. Nonetheless, Bishop Smith removed him from ministry and tried to send him back to India, saying Selvaraj had been repeatedly warned of his “overly friendly personality.” As of 2012, Selvaraj still in NJ without privileges. His appeal to the Vatican was denied when it ruled that Diocese had followed proper protocol and was within its rights. Said in 2/12 he would return to his home parish in India when he received a formal declaration from the diocese that he was a priest in good standing.
Sources:
The Times (NJ) 10.31.05; NBC10com 12.02.05; The Times (NJ) 12.02.05; The Tretonian 12.02.05; India Abroad 12.23.05; The Times (NJ) 02.03.06; The Trentonian 02.12.06; The Times (NJ) 02.13.06; National Catholic Reporter 05.06.10; The Times (NJ) 01.03.12; Media Report 01.04.12; http://bishop-accountability.org/