New York Attorney General Announces Agreement with Brooklyn Diocese to Address Clergy Sexual Abuse

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a significant agreement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn to address shortcomings in handling sexual abuse complaints, following an investigation revealing failures to adequately address allegations and comply with policies. The investigation, conducted by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), found that the Brooklyn Diocese failed to consistently investigate and respond to accusations of sexual abuse and did not properly protect children from harm.

As part of the settlement, the diocese agreed to implement enhanced policies and procedures for managing allegations of clergy sexual abuse and misconduct. This includes publicly posting an explanation of the complaint and investigation process, establishing a confidential reporting portal and whistleblower policy, and subjecting its management of sexual abuse complaints to independent review by a secular monitor. The monitor will oversee the diocese's compliance with the new policies and issue an annual report assessing its handling of cases.

Why this matters: This agreement marks a significant step towards addressing the long-standing issue of clergy sexual abuse within the Diocese of Brooklyn. It aims to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and protection for victims and the community at large.

The OAG's investigation revealed several instances of mismanagement by the diocese, including failing to inform parishioners for more than a decade after a priest admitted to sexually abusing minors and repeatedly transferring another priest from parish to parish to avoid complaints of inappropriate conduct. The report acknowledged that while the diocese has taken steps to strengthen its policies in recent years, the failures occurred primarily during the tenure of Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio from 2003 to 2021.

The settlement with the Diocese of Brooklyn is the second of its kind in New York, following a similar agreement with the Diocese of Buffalo in 2022. Attorney General James noted that investigations into the Archdiocese of New York and the Dioceses of Albany, Ogdensburg, Rochester, Rockville Centre, and Syracuse remain ongoing as part of the OAG's efforts to address clergy sexual abuse across the state.

Key Takeaways

• NY AG reached agreement with Brooklyn Diocese to address sexual abuse mishandling.
• Diocese to implement enhanced policies, procedures, and independent oversight on abuse cases.
• Investigation found diocese failed to properly investigate, respond to, and protect against abuse.
• This agreement is the second of its kind in NY, with more dioceses under investigation.
• Diocese apologized and committed to strongest protection policies going forward.