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Catholic Church Sex Abuse in New York
There are many priests in New York State who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children and young adults. The list of priests accused of abuse in New York is included here, as well as information on the Child Victims Act (CVA) that expands the legal rights and options available to victims of sexual abuse by priests. Every criminal and personal injury case is different, and you may need a New York clergy abuse attorney to fully advise you on your best course of action.
New York Priest Abuse Lawsuits and Settlements
The CVA in New York expanded the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims and opened a lookback window that allowed past victims to file criminal or civil actions against their alleged abusers no matter how long ago the incidents occurred. On the first day of this open window, more than 400 lawsuits were filed in New York alleging abuse. To date, more than 3,000 lawsuits have been filed against Catholic Church Dioceses in New York State.
Notable settlement agreements reached by Dioceses of New York include:
- $9 million paid to almost 100 victims in the Diocese of Albany which included $997,500 paid to a single survivor in 1997
- $5 million paid to date in settlements to victims in the Ogdensburg Diocese
- $27.5 million to settle 4 claims in the Brooklyn Diocese in 2018, resulting in almost $7 million to each survivor
Compensation Funds from New York Dioceses
Many Catholic Dioceses in New York use victim compensation programs to settle claims without answering lawsuits or making admissions of guilt. These programs have paid more than $228 million in compensation to date, resolving more than 1,260 individual claims of clergy sexual abuse. While these funds are not accepting new claims, they demonstrate the level of the problem within the Catholic Church and the possible roads to compensation and closure for survivors of these crimes.
- Albany Diocese compensated more than 40 victims for $3 million
- Brooklyn Diocese compensated an unknown number of victims for $90 million
- Buffalo Diocese compensated more than 100 victims at a cost of $17.5 million
- Archdiocese of New York paid $64 million in compensation to more than 300 victims
- Ogdensburg Diocese compensated at least 39 survivors for a total of $5.5 million
- Syracuse Diocese paid nearly $11 million to 79 victims
Catholic Churches, Dioceses, and Religious Orders Filing Bankruptcy
As businesses, Catholic Dioceses can declare chapter 11 bankruptcy when they are faced with high levels of debt. Four of the eight Catholic Dioceses in New York have already done so due to lawsuits alleging clergy abuse. These bankruptcies do not prevent new lawsuits from being filed, but they do allow structured payback schedules for settlements reached at the time the action was completed.
- The Diocese of Buffalo filed for bankruptcy in February of 2020, which requires survivors of alleged abuse to file their claims with the bankruptcy court to be included in the settlement—a deadline that ended August 14, 2021.
- The Diocese of Rochester filed for bankruptcy in September of 2019, which called for abuse survivors to file their claims by August 13, 2020 in order to be included in the settlement. Again this does not prevent claims that meet legal requirements from being filed at this time.
- The Diocese of Rockville Centre similarly filed in October of 2020, with survivors required to file by August 14, 2021 to be included in the list of debts to be settled in the bankruptcy.
- The Diocese of Syracuse filed their bankruptcy paperwork in June of 2020, giving survivors until April 15, 2021 to make a claim to be settled in that action.
Almost all of these bankruptcies had deadline dates for victims which coincided with the closing of the lookback window under the Child Victims Act. This was in an attempt to deal with the many lawsuits filed under the CVA for abuse that occurred at any time in the past.
What Are the Current Statutes of Limitations for Child Sexual Assault in NY?
The Child Victims Act established a one-year window starting on August 14, 2019 during which past victims of child sexual abuse could file a criminal or civil complaint, no matter how long ago the alleged abuse occurred. The deadline was extended once by NY lawmakers, and officially closed on August 14, 2021.
Even though this lookback window is now closed, victims still benefit from an extended statute of limitations and other protections under the law thanks to the CVA. While you may need to speak with a New York clergy abuse attorney about the specifics of your case, in general:
- Survivors of abuse by clergy members can file a civil lawsuit against their alleged abuser until they reach the age of 55, significantly extending the previous age limit of 23.
- Felony charges for child sexual abuse can now be filed until the victim is 28 years of age.
- Misdemeanor charges can be filed until the alleged victim reaches 25 years of age.
List of Accused Priests in NY
The NY clergy abuse lists below include the names of priests, clergy, and members of religious orders who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse. Each Diocese maintains lists of accusations it considers ‘credible,’ all of which are included here, as well as those allegations which are a matter of public record.
In all cases these accused clergy should be considered innocent until proven guilty. Most settlement agreements reached by the Diocese do not include an admission of guilt. Even if you do not see the name of a clergy member in the list of priests accused of abuse in NY, that does not mean there have been no accusations made against them, and claims can be made for abuse by priests not yet listed here.
List of Accused Priests and Clergy in the Diocese of Albany, New York
There are 108 credibly accused clergy members in Albany Diocese.1
Fr. Anthony Adams |
Fr. Neil Cawlings |
Fr. Ralph Di Pasquale |
List of Accused Clergy Members in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York
There are 157 credibly accused priests and clergy members in the list of credibly accused in the Diocese of Brooklyn, NY.2
Fr. John L. Abrams |
Br. Joseph F. Brocato |
Fr. Christopher Lee Coleman |
List of Credibly Accused Priests and Clergy in the Diocese of Buffalo, New York
In the Diocese of Buffalo, NY there are 187 priests and clergy listed.3
Fr. Mark Andrzejczuk |
Fr. Douglas F. Faraci |
Fr. Peter J. Karalus |
List of Accused Clergy Members in the Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York
There are 48 clergy members and priests listed as credibly accused in the Diocese of Ogdensburg.4
Fr. Fay W. Ager |
Fr. Joseph Arthur Francoeur |
Fr. Gerald McGrath |
List of Accused Priests and Clergy in the Diocese of Rochester, New York
72 accused priests and members of the clergy are listed as credibly accused in the Diocese of Rochester.
Fr. Joseph Beatini |
Fr. Robert W. Hammond |
Fr. Wilfred S. Riley |
List of Accused Priests and Clergy in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York
In the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, there are 127 credibly accused priests and clergy members listed.6
Fr. Peter A. Allen |
Fr. James J. Bergin |
Fr. Brian J. Brinker |
List of Priests and Clergy Accused of Abuse in the Diocese of Syracuse, New York
In the Diocese of Syracuse, NY, 60 priests and clergy members are listed as credibly accused.
Fr. Paul F. Angelicchio |
Fr. Donald J. Hebert |
Fr. Thomas E. Neary |
List of Accused Priests and Clergy in the Archdiocese of New York, New York
There are 238 priests and clergy members listed as credibly accused in the Archdiocese of New York, NY.
Fr. Ronald Boccieri |
Fr. Jose Angel Borges Flores Br. Laurence Boschetto Fr. George Boxelaar Fr. Francis V. Boyle Fr. John Joseph Brady Br. Timothy Brady Fr. Robert J. Brennan Br. Louis Anthony Bucci Fr. Thomas A. Burke Fr. Harry J. Byrne Fr. Daniel A. Calabrese Fr. Roy B. Campbell Fr. Anthony J. Giuliano Fr. Matthew Golden Br. Lawrence Gordon Fr. Richard Gorman Fr. William T. Greene Fr. Stephen Gregory Fr. John M. Harrington Fr. Wallace A. Harris Fr. Robert Harrison Fr. Richard G. Hartnett Fr. John Haverty Fr. Herman Heide Br. Paul Kevin Hennessy Fr. Joseph Reginald Herlihy Fr. Joseph Herzog Fr. Joseph W. Hickey Fr. Eugene Hicks Br. Thomas Higgs Fr. Vincent Francis Holden Fr. Walter Hubert Maria Horan Fr. Edward D. Horgan Fr. Raymond A. Hyland Fr. Lawrence C. Inzeo Fr. Robert A. Jeffers Bishop John Joseph Jenik Fr. Kenneth A. Jesselli Fr. Carleton Parker Jones Fr. Charles M. Kavanagh Fr. Walter Kearns Fr. James Keehan Fr. Kevin Kelly Fr. Stephen Kelly Fr. Timothy Kelly Fr. John Kennington Fr. Peter Kiarie Fr. Peter J. Kihm Fr. James Louis-Bertrand Kilkenny Fr. William Ferrer Kopfman Fr. Adolph M. Kowalczyk Fr. Thomas L. Kreiser Fr. Lawrence T. Quinn Fr. Michael Raimondo Fr. George E. Reinheimer Fr. Louis J. Rios Fr. Robert T. Ritchie Fr. Bruce Ritter Fr. Esteban Rodriguez Fr. Ruben Rodriguez Fr. Sean Leo Rooney Fr. Edward M. Roos Fr. Richard H. Roos Fr. John T. Ryan Fr. Joseph Ryan Fr. Paul Sappino Fr. John Sardy Fr. William J. Scanlon Br. Alan Scheneman Fr. Peter Sella Fr. John J. Sheehan Fr. Raymond Shine Sister Helen Sister Joachim Sister Juanita Sister Rosemarie Sister Virginia Marie Br. Philip Soltau Fr. Anthony Spano |
Fr. Richard Carbo Fr. Robert Carden Fr. Cornelius J. Carr Fr. Maurice Carroll Fr. David L. Carson Fr. John F. Carson Br. Dominic Casiraghi Fr. Daniel Cassiero Fr. Charles Cavalconte Fr. James Chiosso Br. Joseph M. Clark Fr. Vincent Clyne Fr. Charles P. Coen Fr. Morgan J. Kuhl Fr. Ralph W. LaBelle Fr. James J. LeBar Fr. John W. Lennon Fr. Thomas P. Leonard Fr. Arthur T. Leone Br. Christopher Lieby Br. James A. Liguori Br. Robert A. Lindemann Br. Patrick Logan Fr. Francis Logue Fr. William Lombardy Fr. Robert V. Lott Fr. William J. Luciano Fr. Bernard J. Lynch Fr. John J. Lynch Fr. Joseph Maffei Fr. Peter Malloy Fr. Donald T. Malone Fr. Eugene Mangan Fr. Alvin Manni Deacon Arthur Manzione Fr. Umberto Marino Fr. Patrick H. Martin Fr. Stanley Mathews Deacon Albert J. Mazza Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick Fr. James F. McCarthy Fr. John Joseph McCarthy Fr. Richard J. McCormick Fr. Charles McDonagh Fr. Charles McGirr Br. Robert B. McGovern Fr. Joseph Ignatius McGuiness Fr. James McLucas Deacon Lawrence McNeill Br. Thomas Philip McSherry Fr. John T. Meehan Fr. Mortimer Melican Fr. Henry Mills Fr. Leo Joseph Mojecki Fr. Francis Stinner Fr. Daniel J.L. Sullivan Fr. Paul V. Sullivan Fr. Vincent Taglienti Fr. James Tamburrino Fr. Samuel Taylor Fr. Joseph L. Theisen Fr. Thomas J. Thompson Fr. Donald G. Timone Fr. Aldo J. Tos Fr. Joseph C. Towle Br. Jorge Luis Vasquez-Erazo Bishop Austin Bernard Vaughan Fr. John Vincent Fr. James Walsh Fr. Kearns Walter Fr. Edward J. Weber Deacon Joseph Weckbach Fr. Donald J. Whelan Fr. James E. White Fr. William T. White Fr. John V. Wilkinson Fr. William E. Williams Fr. Casper G. Wolf |
How Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers Empower Survivors
Many survivors struggle to come forward and share their stories, and might be subject to intimidation by Church officials or lawyers that the Diocese keeps ready to fight even valid claims of child sex abuse by clergy. Finding closure and holding these predators accountable is easier with an experienced law firm and your own compassionate sexual abuse attorney.
Saunders & Walker, P.A., offers a confidential case evaluation at no cost to you, allowing you to finally find the closure and compensation you need and deserve.
There is no substitute for sound legal advice when you have been the victim of past abuse by a trusted religious figure. Contact us today at (727) 579-4500 to speak to one of our team members about which legal avenues are available to you or a loved one
Sources:
- https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ny-albany/
- https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ny-brooklyn/
- https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ny-buffalo/
- https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ny-ogdensburg/
- https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ny-rochester/
- https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ny-rockville-centre/
- https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ny-syracuse/
- https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ny-new-york/