Diocese of Rockville Centre Announces Compensation Program for Sexual Abuse Survivors
(Rockville Centre, NY) – Today, the Diocese of Rockville Centre announced a compensation program for survivors of child sexual abuse. Phase I of the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) is open to survivors of clergy sexual abuse who previously reported abuse by a diocesan priest or deacon, to the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The deadline for Phase I submissions is December 31, 2017. According to the diocese, Phase II will commence at a later date, which is anticipated to be in January 2018.
“This is a critical time for survivors in New York to make choices and know their rights,” said Attorney Jeff Anderson. “We have successfully helped dozens of survivors obtain some measure of justice through these programs, but there is still more work to do. Survivors deserve more transparency and accountability, and we are working hard to ensure that happens.”
This is the third New York diocese to implement the IRCP program. Approximately one year ago, the Archdiocese of New York announced Phase I of the IRCP. Phase II of the Archdiocese’s program is set to expire on November 1, 2017. Phase I of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s IRCP recently closed on October 15, 2017, and Phase II is now open for survivors of abuse who previously did not report abuse to the Diocese of Brooklyn.
The question of a survivor’s eligibility for the programs is complex and inequitably places the burden on the shoulders of the already traumatized survivors. The Archdiocese of New York and Diocese of Brooklyn have refused to provide survivors with access to secret church documents regarding the abusive priests that could provide support for their case.
On February 10, 2003, the Suffolk County Grand Jury Report was released after an 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 of the diocese failed in their responsibility to protect children” and “ignored complaints about the sexually abusive behavior of priests.”
On May 18, 2017, at a press conference in Manhattan, Attorney Mike Reck of Jeff Anderson & Associates, announced settlements from Phase I of the Archdiocese’s program. The identities and photographs of the alleged perpetrators were also disclosed.
New York Times – https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/nyregion/archdiocese-of-new-york-sexual-abuse-priests.html
Lower Hudson Valley – http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/2017/05/23/1-5-m-settles-claims-against-lower-hudson-valley-priests/340367001/