Diocesan Review Board

The U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, and its accompanying Essential Norms, provide for the establishment in every diocese of a diocesan review board. Among the board’s primary responsibilities are assisting the bishop in assessing allegations of sexual abuse and determining a cleric’s suitability for ministry (Essential Norms, 4). The review board is to be comprised of at least five Catholics of “outstanding integrity and good judgment;” at least one member should be a pastor (ibid, 5). The majority of review board members are to be “lay persons who are not in the employ of the diocese” (ibid).

The diocesan review board in the Diocese of Metuchen includes:

Rev. Msgr. William Benwell, J.C.L., V.G.
Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia

Deacon Robert Bonfante
Captain, Old Bridge Police Dept.

Palma Formica, M.D.
St. Peter’s University Hospital

Catherine Guercio-Hauer, M.D.
Family Practice

George W. Lutz, M.D.
Behavioral Medicine Consultants

William E. Prendergast, Ph.D.
Certified Sex Therapist

Anthony J. Provenzano, M.S.W. A.C.S.W.
Marriage and Family Therapist

Ronald C. Rak, Esq.
CEO, St Peter's University Health Care System

Hon. Richard S. Rebeck
Superior Court Judge (Ret.)