Little Ferry Priest Accused Of Pointing Gun At Child

A priest in Bergen County has been arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at a child.

Carter asked an 8-year-old boy who had arrived for a service with his family to step into one of the rectory’s rooms and stand against a wall, prosecutors said. The priest then allegedly took the musket and pointed it at the boy with an indication he would shoot. Carter is a New York Giants fan and was unhappy the boy was supporting their divisional rivals, the Cowboys, later that day .

“I don’t know whether it ended up to be an actual argument or whether or not the priest was just showing his preference for his team, but our position is there is really no basis to ever point any weapon at an 8-year-old child”, Molinelli said.

Detectives interviewed Carter Friday and found the weapon, a functioning Civil War-style musket, along with gunpowder, ammunition, and other items for the gun, authorities said.

Margaret of Cortona Roman Catholic Church in Little Ferry is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault by pointing a firearm. But the charges are serious and a major embarrassment for Father Carter who was sworn-in earlier this year as the chaplain of the Little Ferry Police Department.

A parishioner reported the incident to the Archdiocese of Newark late last month, and officials there soon notified the prosecutor’s office.

Carter was arrested and jailed on $15,000 bail on Friday.

After being ordained in 1986 in Newark, Carter served at churches in Wyckoff, Hillsdale, Oakland, Ho-Ho-kus and at St. Nicholas Church in Jersey City before coming to St. Margaret’s in February 2013, according to the prosecutor’s office.