New York Catholic dioceses subpoenaed in sex abuse probe
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York and New Jersey launched new investigations into the Roman Catholic Church’s handling of clergy sex abuse allegations Thursday as the number of similar inquiries around the country continues to grow.
In New York, the state’s attorney general issued subpoenas to all eight of the state’s Catholic dioceses seeking any and all documents pertaining to allegations, findings from internal church investigations and payments to victims, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation but not authorized to speak publicly.
Church leaders confirmed receipt of the subpoenas and vowed to work with Attorney General Barbara Underwood’s civil investigation — as well as any potential criminal investigations to come. The subpoenas were issued to the Archdiocese of New York in New York City as well as the dioceses of Albany, Brooklyn, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, Ogdensburg and Rockville Centre.
“It is not a surprise to us that the attorney general would look to begin a civil investigation, and she will find the archdiocese of New York, and the other seven dioceses in the state, ready and eager to work together with her in the investigation,” New York archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling said.
Underwood’s office is pursuing a civil investigation into the church’s response to abuse reports and has also reached out to local prosecutors, who are authorized to convene grand juries or pursue criminal investigations. In New York the attorney general doesn’t have that power, so the involvement of local district attorneys would be critical to any criminal prosecutions.
In New Jersey, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced a new task force that will look at how abuse allegations were handled in the seven dioceses in that state.
The developments in the two neighboring states come after attorneys general in Nebraska, Illinois and Missouri recently announced investigations into allegations of clergy abuse or cover ups in local dioceses.
“I’m elated, but my elation is tempered by how long it has taken to get here,” said Steve Jimenez, a leading advocate for survivors in New York who says a Roman Catholic brother repeatedly assaulted him when he was a child attending Catholic school in Brooklyn.
Jimenez said he hopes investigators can answer a question that’s haunted him for decades: “What did the diocese of Brooklyn know and when did they know it?”
Even if investigators do find evidence of past abuse, many victims in New York may have little legal recourse. That’s because the state currently has one of the strictest laws in the nation when it comes to allowing victims to sue or press criminal charges.
Jimenez and other advocates have for years urged lawmakers to relax the state’s statute of limitations and create a oneyear window for civil suits now barred by the law. The bill has repeatedly been blocked by the Republican leaders of the state Senate, but Jimenez said he and others will keep trying to get legislation passed.
Underwood and Grewal also announced hotlines for individuals to report allegations of clergy abuse. The numbers are 855-363-6548 in New Jersey and 800-771-7755 in New Jersey. New York has also set up a confidential online complaint form that can be found at ag.ny. gov/ClergyAbuse.