Former top law enforcement officer reflects on ‘new chapter’

On April 12 of last year, Anthony P. Kearns III, Esq. left the position he had held for nine years -— Prosecutor of Hunterdon County. Three days later, he arrived at the Diocese of Metuchen’s Pastoral Center at 5:30 a.m., so early he set off the building’s alarm. “I moved my belongings into the Office of the Chancellor and began a new chapter in my life,” Kearns said. 

Reflecting on his first year as Chancellor, Kearns added, “With God’s grace I have tried my very best to serve the Bishop, serve our diocese, and serve God in every way I can. As a prosecutor, I sought to promote and seek truth and justice and working for the Church I still do.” 

Kearns had not sought the Chancellor’s position. It was Bishop James F. Checchio who had asked him to leave public office and come work for the Church. It was not a quick or easy decision for the former prosecutor, but he prayed to discern what God wanted him to do.

“What I realized was that we Catholics are living in a time when we all have to be willing to get out of our comfort zone and step up for the Kingdom of God. That is why I accepted the Chancellor’s position. I saw it as God’s work and although challenging, I felt obliged to step up and follow God’s call to serve Him and His Church,” Kearns stated. “While I firmly believe that I was doing God’s work as a prosecutor, now it’s more defined and pronounced because I am working directly for the Church,” he added.

 

Historic Challenges

Last month, with the outbreak of the coronavirus, Kearns stepped up to challenges the pandemic posed as he worked with many offices. He provided advise on letters and information sent to schools, catechetical leaders, Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, and pastors. When the bishop appointed him to head the diocese’s Coronavirus Task Force, the Chancellor worked with clergy, staff and civil authorities to implement best practices for schools, parishes and the diocesan pastoral center in dealing with COVID-19.

In choosing a Chancellor, the bishop said he felt strongly that they would have to be someone who could provide leadership and guidance where civil and Church matters intersect. More specifically, he noted the Chancellor would have oversight of the diocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection and the Office of General Counsel as well as involvement in schools and Catholic Social Services.

Although his transition to Chancellor was quick, the skills Kearns gained in his previous position have helped him in his new role. “As a prosecutor for nine years, I worked with victims and their attorneys in an effort to seek justice and helped survivors move towards healing,” he said.

 

Top Priority

Protecting children and youth and ensuring a safe environment for young people as they grow and learn and are formed in the faith, has remained a top priority for the Chancellor. When the director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection retired in 2018, the position’s responsibilities were dispersed among several individuals. After Kearns joined the diocesan staff a year later, he reorganized the office, brought greater clarity to it and hired a director. 

He had told a few individuals of the position and through one of them learned about Doranne Rossiter, a retired law enforcement officer who had worked 33 years in the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. She met with the Chancellor and Bishop Checchio and in October 2019 was named director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection.

In supervising the office charged with protecting children, Kearns works with Rossiter. “Tony is a true leader who knows how to handle the issues the Church is dealing with in the diocese,” stated Rossiter.

“He addresses each situation from a perspective not only of justice, but also faith,” she added. 

Kearns noted that last year he sent a letter to all pastors reminding them of the importance of the diocese’s protocols to protect children and asked them to make sure their parishes are in compliance with those protocols. The pastors were also told that under Kearns’ direction, the diocese is going to conduct audits to ensure compliance.

Earlier this year, Kearns worked closely with Bishop Checchio and the staff on a trifold, “Healing, Truth & Hope, A Pastoral Response to the Abuse Crisis,” which was accompanied by a letter from the bishop. Sent to parishioners, the letter and trifold address what the diocese has done for nearly 20 years to prevent abuse. 

As a member of the Diocesan Review Board the Chancellor investigates allegations of sexual abuse and oversees all litigation with regards to these allegations. He is also chairman of the diocese’s victims’ compensation board.

The Office of General Counsel serves as the bridge between the mission of the Diocese to serve the People of God and the civil law reality within which the Church exists. Headed by Michael K. Ligorano, Esq., the guiding principles of the office are the teachings of the Church.

In the General Counsel’s office, “I directly oversee all cases involving clergy allegations,” Kearns said. In working with Ligorano, he added that his role is to provide guidance on lawsuits, mediation cases, and other matters involving the law. 

It is in supervising the diocese’s legal office that the Chancellor has found his most difficult challenges. “Before coming to the diocese, I knew a lot about my religion, but in the past year I have learned much more about my faith, and the teachings and policies of the Church as well as how it functions,” he said.

Kearns noted that Bishop Checchio and Father Timothy A. Christy, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia, are “tremendous resources,” who have taught him much about the Church and especially the Church of Metuchen. He added, “I have learned more and more about our faith and policies because I interact with so many people and work with them on so many different issues.”

 

Power of Prayer

Another key responsibility the Chancellor has assumed is that of spokesperson for the diocese. Tara Smith, associate director, diocesan Office of Communications and Public Relations, drafts press releases on the diocese and serves as the contact for them. Having often dealt with the press when he was a prosecutor, Kearns, is the individual often quoted in releases and in many instances is the one who talks to reporters.

The Chancellor also works closely with the diocese’s Office of Schools on personnel issues and crisis situations and he serves as a member of Catholic Charities Board of Directors.

While much of Kearns responsibilities go beyond the traditional work of a Chancellor, who is a diocese’s chief archivist, he does serve in that role, too. He notarizes all official acts of Bishop Checchio and serves on the Curia, an advisory group to the bishop. As the diocese’s archivist, Kearns is responsible, too, for ensuring the accuracy of priests’ files.

What has helped Kearns achieve much during his first year in the diocese are his background, experience and faith. “My running a prosecutor’s office with detectives and attorneys, and managing a wide variety of cases, helped me develop administrative and organizational skills that I utilize in my role as Chancellor,” he explained. “Because my office is directly across from the chapel, I am often reminded throughout the day of the presence of God and ask for His grace to help me to be an instrument to bring healing or resolution to whatever I might be dealing with. I call upon God in a more conscious way than ever before,” he added.

Since the diocese has Eucharist Adoration from 9 to 11:45 a.m. every day the pastoral center is open, the Chancellor said, “I make a great effort to try and kneel before the Blessed Sacrament for about 15 minutes in the middle of each morning. I sit, reflect and pray.”

Bishop Checchio has said he wants the diocesan pastoral center to be a powerhouse of prayer. The Chancellor has certainly strengthened the powerhouse as he leads the diocese in all its efforts to protect children, seek justice, and bring about the Kingdom of God in the Church of Metuchen.

In reflecting on the Chancellor’s first year, Bishop Checchio stated, “I was deeply grateful when Tony joined our diocesan staff last April, and now I am filled with even more gratitude for God’s grace in bringing Tony to us at this pivotal time in our Church.

“His background and experience as a prosecutor together with his strong faith has enabled him to provide the leadership and guidance that has helped restore confidence in our local Church. From protecting our youth to addressing the coronavirus, Tony has worked tirelessly for our diocese and the people we serve.”