Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorneys in New York

In recent years, clergy sexual abuse revelations have rocked the Catholic Church in New York and around the globe. According to The Buffalo News, six of New York’s eight Catholic dioceses have identified 249 priests who have been “credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor.” BishopAccountability.org, a website which tracks clergy sexual abuse allegations in the U.S. Catholic Church, puts the number of accused priests higher. The site’s database lists 480 priests from New York’s Catholic dioceses who have been accused of sexual abuse.

However, the actual number of priests involved in the sexual abuse of minors in our state may be even greater than 480. As The Buffalo News notes, the Archdiocese of Boston found that 10 percent of the clergy who served in the archdiocese from 1950 through 2002 had faced child sexual abuse allegations. Because 12,000 priests have served in New York’s eight dioceses since 1950, one expert estimated that 1,200 “would be a good estimate for how many New York priests were accused of abuse,” according to the newspaper.

Sadly, numerous investigations have revealed a pattern of covering up sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. In many situations, bishops simply reassigned accused priests to other parishes, where they continued to sexually abuse minors. A staggering number of lives may have been destroyed as a result of this culture of concealment. However, thanks to the Child Victims Act, those victims can now seek the justice they deserve.

In 2016, six New York dioceses formed Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Programs. These programs allow victims to file claims for compensation in exchange for agreeing to forgo the filing of lawsuits. However, the Albany and Rochester dioceses currently do not offer such programs. (The Albany dioceses briefly operated a victims’ compensation fund in the mid-2000s.)

Before you participate in any victims’ compensation program and agree to a settlement, you should speak first with an attorney from Powers & Santola, LLP. We can explain how these programs work and help you to decide whether submitting a claim with a compensation fund is the best course of action for you and your family. Our attorneys always focus on our clients’ unique circumstances. We can tailor a legal strategy to meet your specific needs and goals.

At Powers & Santola, LLP, our legal team features former law enforcement officers who served as members of the elite Special Victims Unit. They have the in-depth knowledge and understanding that comes from investigating hundreds of sexual abuse cases over the course of their careers. They also have the sensitivity to provide an environment in which victims can feel free to tell their stories and provide information that will help to hold their abusers and the religious institutions which harbored them accountable.

We realize how difficult and courageous it is to come forward with a childhood sexual abuse claim. You can count on Powers & Santola, LLP, to handle your case with the legal skill and compassion that you deserve. When you are ready to move forward, contact us. We can review your case in a free and confidential consultation.