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More clergy sex abuse cases in Queens
Additional lawsuits hit Diocese of Brooklyn, implicating Queens churches, schools and priests
BY BILL PARRY
Hundreds of lawsuits were
filed electronically across
the state just after midnight
Wednesday as the one year
“look-back window” provision
of the Child Victims Act
opened in New York State.
It allows for survivors of
child sexual abuse to file civil
suits against their attackers
and the institutions that may
of harbored them, no matter
how long ago that abuse
took place.
As expected, the majority
of the lawsuits were filed
against Catholic Dioceses
across the state. The law firm
Weitz and Luxenberg claimed
it had 1,200 clients expected to
file lawsuits across the state.
Another firm, Anderson &
Associates, which has been
fighting for child sex abuse
survivors for nearly 40 years,
named 18 perpetrators in
the Diocese of Brooklyn and
Queens that were subject
to lawsuits.
Anderson & Associates
claims incidents occurred
at churches in Bayside,
Elmhurst, Woodside,
Richmond Hill, Jackson
Heights and Flushing but
provided little detail.
Bishop Nicholas
DiMarzio, leader of the
Diocese of Brooklyn, braced
his parishioners for the
anticipated new litigation
with an Aug. 7 letter. He also
issued a statement on Aug. 14,
the first day of the one-year
look-back window.
“Today, we stand with the
victims who were sexually
abused as children. We have
reached this point because
too many victims all across
society have sadly carried
this heavy cross for far too
long,” the bishop said. “Sexual
abuse is a heinous crime, and
victim-survivors now have a
new avenue to seek redress
through the Child Victims
Act. For anyone abused by a
priest, employee or volunteer,
I am sorry that a member
of our church you trusted
became the source of pain and
anguish. You should know
the Diocese of Brooklyn has
instituted the most aggressive
policies to prevent any
future abuse and to protect
children.”
To date, the Diocese of
Brooklyn has worked with
nearly 500 victims and paid
over $90 million in settlements.
Earlier this year, the Diocese
of Brooklyn published a
list of credibly accused
clergy who have served
the Diocese throughout its
166-year history.
The Diocese has put victimsurvivors
first through the
resources offered by the
Victim Assistance Ministry
and provides independent
licensed therapists and
support groups to help
victim-survivors through the
healing process. The Bishop
also celebrates a yearly Mass
of Hope and Healing bringing
the faithful of Queens and
Brooklyn together to pray for
victim-survivors of clergy
sex abuse.
“Our various support
groups and our yearly Mass of
Hope and Healing highlight
our commitment,” the Bishop
said. “I have also personally
met with victim-survivors to
hear their heart-wrenching
stories. The Diocese of
Brooklyn will never stop
fighting sexual abuse. We
will never stop supporting
those who need healing
and will forever work to
restore the faith of those who
have failed.”
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, leader of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Photo via Wikipedia Commons
Vol. 7 No. 34 60 total pages
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