A growing number of critics are pushing for the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island to release an accused priests list with the names and other data of clergy members that had been credibly accused of sexually abusing children.

A list of 65 publicly-accused clergy members from the Diocese of Rockville Centre has already been compiled by a Manhattan law firm, along with the histories and photographs of the accused, but the diocese allegedly has other data that it could release on predator priests within its ranks over the decades that have been accused of sexual abuse.

Last year, a Pennsylvania grand jury report reported by the Washington Post dove deep into the allegations of sexual abuse committed by more than 300 priests within the state of Pennsylvania. The report was groundbreaking and has, in the months since its publication, sparked the release of similar lists and data from dioceses across the country.

Is There Precedent for Releasing Names of Accused Clergy?

Several dioceses in the state of New York have released similar information on priests who have been accused of sexual abuse—in fact, the only New York State diocese that has not yet released an accused priest list is the Diocese of Rockville Centre. This is a large diocese, and has more than one million baptized Catholics on Long Island.

In order to compile its own accused priests list in lieu of one from the diocese itself, the Manhattan law firm used information from a 2003 Suffolk County grand jury report, provided here by BishopAccountability.org, which had concluded that priests in the Diocese of Rockville Centre were engaging in criminal sexual abuse. The grand jury report also concluded that the diocese was “incapable of properly handling issues relating to sexual abuse of children.”

However, this accused priests list has incomplete data—the firm cannot locate 30 out of the 65 perpetrators.

“We do not know if they’re in the communities next to you, in your schools, in your churches or in some youth serving organization,” said one of the attorneys who compiled the list of accused Catholic clergy members, according to the Long Island Press. “Not knowing where these predators are, to us that is a public safety imperative and the diocese needs to provide that information.”

The diocese indicated that it believed it was “premature” to release the names of accused priests “while the investigations into allegations are ongoing.” The diocese already has an Independent Compensation Review Program offering victims settlements.

Filing a Childhood Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

If you are a victim of childhood sexual abuse in New York or elsewhere—even if the abuse happened years ago—you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit can never undo the pain and suffering caused by childhood abuse and trauma, but at the very least, it can at least help to provide monetary compensation, as well as hold those responsible for your pain accountable.

Sexual abuse litigation can be daunting, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with experienced sexual abuse lawyers. An attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

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