Clergy Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Rockville Centre
Whether you require assistance in navigating the complexities of the New York Child Victims Act or simply need someone to listen to your story without judgment, we are ready to help child sexual abuse survivors like you pursue justice, healing, compensation, and accountability in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Our law firm of legal professionals and trauma-informed advocates have spent nearly 40 years working with survivors of clergy sexual abuse and successfully litigating cases against Catholic dioceses and religious orders nationwide.
It’s time for your voice to be heard. It’s time to hold institutions accountable for covering up decades of sexual abuse. It’s your time.
Diocese of Rockville Centre Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
On October 1, 2020, the Diocese Rockville Centre filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. Diocesan officials made this decision after being named as a defendant in hundreds of clergy sexual abuse lawsuits filed since New York’s Child Victims Act took effect in August 2019.
Historically, organizations such as Catholic dioceses and religious orders have used Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a shield to prevent embarrassing jury trials, allowing the institution to continue “business as usual” while continuing to hide its secrets. Bishops use this legal tactic to prevent survivors of child sexual abuse from pursuing legal action, exposing predators, and holding the Diocese accountable. However, you still have legal rights. Please visit our Chapter 11 bankruptcy FAQ page for more details about this process.
The Anderson Report: Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Rockville Centre
This report contains the names, and, where available, assignment histories, photos, and biographical information of clergy who were assigned within, worked in, or lived in the Diocese of Rockville Centre and who have been accused of sexual misconduct. The information in this Anderson Report is derived from publicly available sources, claims made by survivors to the dioceses and religious orders responsible for the offenders, and legal settlements made as a result of claims for sexual abuse. This same information can be found in the gallery at the bottom of this page. Download the report.
Suffolk County Grand Jury Report
On February 10, 2003, the Suffolk County Grand Jury Report was released after an extensive civil and criminal investigation into the Diocese of Rockville Centre, its priests and its parishes. The Grand Jury examined personnel records of the diocese’s priests, including secret archive files of 43 priests. The Grand Jury concluded that “officials in the Diocese failed in their responsibility to protect children” and “ignored complaints about the sexually abusive behavior of priests.”
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.
Diocese of Rockville Centre Quietly Identifies Names of 101 Clergy Accused of Sexual Abuse
On April 15, 2021, a list of clergy accused of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Rockville Centre was included in a group of documents filed in United States Bankruptcy Court. Making the Diocese of Rockville Centre the last Catholic Diocese in New York to release a list of accused clergy.
The “List of Accused Clergy,” as identified in the bankruptcy court filings, contains the names of 101 priests and deacons that the Diocese (Debtor) “knows have been the subject of an adverse determination by the Diocesan Review Board of the Debtor that an allegation of clergy abuse against such priest or deacon was credible or against whom an allegation clergy abuse was made through the Debtor’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (“IRCP”) and the Debtor made a payment in settlement of such allegation through the IRCP.”
The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditor’s list, also released a supplemental list of 46 names. The names contained in this list consist of “people who have served within the territorial limits of the Diocese of Rockville Centre” and were “accused of committing sexual abuse.” Additionally, the list includes names that “a religious order and/or diocese outside the Diocese of Rockville Centre found sexual abuse accusations against these people to be credible or lawsuits have been filed against the alleged perpetrator.”
You Are Not Alone. We Are Here to Help.
It’s time for justice. It’s time for you to share your story, safely and confidentially. It’s time to lay down your burden and reclaim some of your power. It’s time to expose those who hurt you and make sure what happened to you never happens to another kid. It’s time to take action under the New York Child Victims Act. Before making a decision concerning such serious and sensitive matters, we encourage all survivors of child sexual abuse to consult with legal counsel before proceeding with a claim. We want to help you find accountability and healing. We will stand by you. We will fight for you.
Clergy Accused of Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Rockville Centre
The list below contains the names of clergy who were assigned within, lived, or worked in the New York Diocese of Rochester and who have been accused of sexual misconduct. While lawsuits have been 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 only allegations and should not be considered proven 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 below is an attempt to compile information already available to the public. This list includes information obtained from the media; databases such as www.bishopaccountability.org; the Diocese’s own statements, lists, and reports that were released to the public; and other publicly available sources.
