4 FEBRUARY 21, 2019 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Local clergy on diocese’s predatory priest list
BY MARK HALLUM
MHALLUM@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@RIDGEWOODTIMES
The Brooklyn Diocese has released
a list of priests spanning the
20th century who they say have
credible claims of sexual abuse against
them from victims, either before or
aft er their death.
The report also shows that while
many of the alleged sexual predators
are long dead, many not only served in
Queens, but about 40 percent are still
alive, though none of them still serve as
clergymen, either by their own volition
or by removal from the ministry.
Up to 95 of those listed served at
locations in Forest Hills, Ridgewood
and Flushing. They include Father
Brian Keller, who served in the 1990s
and early 2000s at St. Margaret
Church in Middle Village and St.
Pancras Church in Glendale; and
Father Andrezj Lukianiuk, who was
previously assigned to Sacred Heart
Church in Glendale.
One of the most notorious off enders
on the list is Father Adam Prochaski,
who served at Holy Cross Church in
Maspeth from 1969 to 1994 and has been
accused of abusing more than 20 female
victims, according to Lawyers Helping
Survivors of Child Sex Abuse.
What differs between the
earlier report released by the legal
organization and the report released
by the diocese is that it does not list the
number of accusations against various
Photo via Getty Images
priests and only indicates whether
reports emerged before or after
the individuals death and how they
eventually left the diocese. The diocese
report does not list clergy members
currently serving with accusations
against them.
“As we know, sexual abuse is a
shameful and destructive problem
that is found in all aspects of society,
yet it is especially egregious when it
occurs within the church and such
abuse cannot be tolerated,” Brooklyn
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said in a
letter. “It is my hope that publishing
this list will provide some assistance
to some of those who are continuing
the difficult process of healing, as
well as encouraging other victims to
come forward.”
There are more than 100 priests on
the list and the diocese said it is aware
of about 14 percent of cases prior
to a 2017 eff ort to pay remediations
to victims.
Boston attorney Mitchell
Garabedian, who was depicted in the
fi lm “Spotlight,” was also defending
alleged victims of Prochaski and in
2017 told TimesLedger that not only
did the diocese owe the women coming
forward settlement, but also warned
that Prochaski was still in the New
York City area.
Linda Porcaro, a teacher who was
close to the matter, told Timesledger
in an interview that Prochaski was
a physically imposing fi gure at the
parish school for both boys and girls,
oft en using this to intimidate those
aware of his misconduct.
“He was mean and intimidating,”
Porcaro said in an interview with
TimesLedger. “He was very large,
he towered over me … He was about
6-foot-4, he wasn’t slim, He wasn’t
overweight, but he was built and to a
child that’s already very intimidating.
I know he was rough with the boys, I
saw him with the boys.”
Prochaski is listed as resigned from
the ministry as of 1994, the year a
spokeswoman from the diocese says
the fi rst reports against him arose, but
Garabedian claims records showed the
priest was on sick leave between 1995
and 2002.
“Based on my experience from
handing clergy sexual abuse cases,
that is code for in many instances
pedophilia and treatment for
pedophilia,” Garabedian said. “It’s
troubling that Bishop Vose Daily and
other supervisors of Father Prochaski
did not protect innocent children
when Father Prochaski was openly
and notoriously sexually abusing
children in the hallways of the Holy
Cross School, the Holy Cross Church
and other locations.”
Another priest to make both lists
was Romano Ferraro, who served in
the Rockaways as well as many other
locations across the state from 1960
to 2002.
He was placed on sick leave twice
during his career as a priest and
in 2002 was arrested in connection
with the raping an underaged boy in
Massachusetts between 1973 and 1980.
At trial, Ferraro admitted to abusing
dozens of children before receiving a
life sentence in 2004.
The Brooklyn Diocese has released
the report as part of an Independent
Reconciliation and Compensation
Program with attorney Kenneth
Feinberg as the administrator.
The Greater Ridgewood Historical Society
Invites you to
Candlelight Tours
Of the Onderdonk House
Saturday, March 2nd , 2019
From 6 - 9PM
Join Us For A Special Evening Of Candlelight
“Duo Brasiliero”, Richard Boukas and Gustavo Amarante
performing Brazilian Guitar and Bass.
$5.00 donation.
Music by
Members, Service Families
and Veterans - Free
AT THE ONDERDONK HOUSE
1820 FLUSHING AVENUE,
RIDGEWOOD
718-456-1776
www.onderdonkhouse.org
Supported in part, by public funds from
the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs,
in partnership with the City Council
Antonio Reynoso and Robert Holden, Council Members
Directions
1820 Flushing Avenue, Ridgewood, Corner of Flushing and Onderdonk Avenues.
Subway: L to Jefferson Street, then walk five blocks north along Flushing Avenue.
Bus: Q54 to Flushing and Metropolitan Avenues. B57 to Flushing and Onderdonk Avenues.
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