The New York Daily News reports that Monsignor John Paddack—an accused pedophile priest—has been accused for the eighth time this year of molesting youth between 1984 and 2002.

Similar to several victims who accused Paddack in spring 2019, the newest accuser, 34-year-old Joseph C., has chosen to be identified in hopes that Paddack will be removed from his current post at New York City’s Church of Notre Dame.

As indicated by the Daily News, Joseph says that as a child, he was targeted by the alleged pedophile priest, who separated Joseph from his peers. Joseph maintains that Paddack groped his genitals and other parts of his body. His account is very similar to what seven other alleged victims have reported.

Four of the first five people to accuse Paddack of sexual misconduct allowed themselves to be identified. All of the men attended Catholic schools in the boroughs of Manhattan, Staten Island, or the Bronx, according to an earlier Daily News report.

The three schools where the purported sexual abuse took place were Cardinal Hayes High School, St. Joseph by the Sea High School, and Church of the Incarnation.

Another reported victim, Rafael M., claims that he sought counseling from the monsignor after suffering suicidal ideation.

Rafael said he met with the priest for counseling every other week for a year. During that time, the monsignor would sit very close, with his knees touching Rafael, according to the newspaper. On occasion, Paddack would lift a knee into the youngster’s genital region and, according to Rafael, become very red in the face. Once, Rafael said, he was asked to take off his clothes for an examination with a stethoscope.

At least one other victim came forward in 2012, only to be discredited by the New York Archdiocese Lay Review Board. Paddack has denied all of the accusations and says he has the support of the Archdiocese and Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

The accused pedophile priest claims that the alleged victims are coming forward for monetary gain and the thrill of notoriety. All eight victims have reported their cases to the New York Attorney General.

The Child Victim’s Act

These and other survivors of abuse will have more time to bring legal action against their alleged assailants following passage of a new law that expands the statutory limitations period.

According to CNN, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Child Victim’s Act (CVA) into law in February 2019. The law allows “child victims to seek prosecution against their abuser until the age of 55 in civil cases, a significant increase from the previous limit of age 23,” according to CNN.

“For criminal cases, victims can seek prosecution until they turn 28. The bill also includes a one-year window during which victims of any age or time limit can come forward to prosecute.”

Other states have also made changes to laws extending the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual abuse.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.