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Were you or a loved one sexually abused by William Weaver, a former Presbyterian minister in Linden, New Jersey? Our experienced personal injury attorneys are here to help.
You may be eligible to pursue financial damages by filing a private civil lawsuit. Contact us today to learn more about filing a New Jersey Catholic Church sex abuse class action.
A Presbyterian minister from Linden, New Jersey has been accused of coercing men into oral sex during Native American-inspired exorcism rituals. At least three men have come forward to accuse Presbyterian minister William Weaver of misconduct. Victims say Weaver claimed to be following the Bible, but instead used gemstones and oral sex during counseling sessions. The alleged misconduct dates back to 1999. Weaver served as pastor at Linden Presbyterian Church for 39 years.
Were you or a loved one abused by William Weaver, a former Presbyterian minister in Linden, New Jersey? You are not alone. Our experienced sexual abuse attorneys are here to help. Weaver is accused of forcing men into oral sex during elaborate exorcism rituals. If these allegations are true, he has committed grave sexual misconduct. Justice is possible.
We believe you, and we believe your story deserves to be told. While no criminal charges have yet been filed against Weaver, at least three men have reported the minister to secular authorities. In light of the troubling allegations against William Weaver, our attorneys have opened a full investigation into the minister's alleged misconduct.
We believe that civil action may be possible. If you or a loved one were abused by Weaver, you may be eligible to pursue significant financial compensation by filing a private civil lawsuit. We believe NJ sexual abuse lawsuits can be filed against Weaver himself, along with the Presbyterian Church for which he practiced.
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Weaver, 69, was set to face an internal church trial in January, after Church officials accused him of "multiple acts of idolatry and sexual misconduct." But on the eve of the trial, Weaver renounced the jurisdiction of the Elizabeth Presbytery, abdicating his membership in the Presbyterian Church and avoiding the trial. The Elizabeth Presbytery defines sexual abuse to be "whenever a person in a position of trust engages, with or without consent, in a sexual act or sexual contact with another person to whom s/he owes a professional and pastoral responsibility."
Weaver came under investigation after three men came forward to report the abuse to the Elizabeth Presbytery, which oversees 41 Presbyterian churches in Middlesex, Union, Somerset and Hunterdon counties.
Survivors of Weaver's alleged abuse say the former minister preyed on them during moments of weakness, often after they had suffered severe trauma. Searching for guidance, the men befriended Weaver through the Church, believing that, as a minister, he would have their best interests at heart. One way or another, each of the men ultimately agreed to engage in private counseling sessions with Weaver, relying on his experience in "spiritual warfare."
Weaver would tell the men that they had been infected by evil spirits, then set up elaborate rituals to exorcise the demons. Weaver's techniques relied heavily on strains of Native American practice. He would often instruct the men to unclothe themselves entirely and lie down on a bed. The misconduct is said to have occurred on church property, both in Weaver's office and at the manse, a house owned by the Church as a residence for ministers.
After the men had lied down, Weaver would place gemstones on their necks, ankles and wrists. Using a magnetic strip of tape, he would affix a saint coin to their foreheads. Then, the victims say, he would begin to engage in sexual activity, either manually masturbating the men to orgasm or performing fellatio. Weaver told his victims that this was the only way to extract the evil spirits from their bodies. After the men had finished, Weaver would show them metal balls he said had "passed" through their seminal fluid, evidence of the devious demons extracted from their bodies.
