Clergy Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Rochester
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse by a priest, teacher, coach, or other clergy you are not alone. You have rights. Our attorneys & advocates are here to help you.
From simply listening to your story without judgment to assistance navigating the complexities of the New York Child Victims Act, we are ready to help New York child sex abuse survivors in their fight for justice and healing. Our law firm of legal professionals and advocates have spent 37 years working with survivors of sexual abuse and litigating cases against Catholic dioceses and religious orders nationwide. We have partnered with attorney Steve Boyd to serve survivors of child sexual abuse in the Dioceses of Rochester and Buffalo.
Diocese of Rochester Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
On September 12, 2019, the Diocese of Rochester filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after being named as a defendant in dozens of clergy sexual abuse lawsuits. Historically, organizations such as Catholic Dioceses have used Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a shield to prevent jury trials and allow the institution to continue business as usual while maintaining its secrets. This legal tactic can and often does prevent survivors of clerical sexual abuse from pursuing legal action, exposing predators, and holding the Diocese accountable. However, you still have rights and a limited time to exercise these rights. Please visit our Chapter 11 bankruptcy FAQ page for more details about this process. Survivors who were abused in the Diocese of Rochester had to come forward by August 13, 2020, to file a claim against the diocese.
New York Child Victims Act Diocesan Lawsuits Dashboard & Database
Between the opening of the CVA on August 14, 2019, and May 31, 2021, more than 3,300 child sexual abuse lawsuits involving the Catholic Church, its affiliated organizations, its clergy, and its employees were filed in the state of New York. These lawsuits allege abuse by more than 1,700 individuals, including cardinals, bishops, priests, members of religious orders, and lay staff. We analyzed these lawsuits and have presented our analysis as of April 2021 in an interactive dashboard. We invite you to explore summary data by state or diocese, and scroll or search for accused perpetrators by name. View dashboard.
Clergy Accused of Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Rochester
The list below contains the names of clergy who were assigned within or working in the Diocese of Rochester who have been accused of sexual misconduct. While lawsuits were filed involving many of these alleged perpetrators, the vast majority of the claims against these individuals have been settled or have not been fully evaluated in a civil or criminal court. Accordingly, the allegations should be considered just allegations and should not be considered proved or substantiated in a court of law.
All individuals should be considered innocent until proven guilty. In some situations, the statute of limitations has expired preventing cases from being heard in a court of law. The information contained herein is an attempt to compile information already available to the public including information obtained from the media, www.bishopaccountability.org, the Archdiocese’s public statements, lists and reports that were released to the public, and other sources that have attempted to chronicle this information for public use.
