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NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The Archdiocese of New York has released a list of 120 clergy who were credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor, possessing child pornography or other behavior that led to the diocese paying compensation claims.
The full list has been made available on the archdiocese website.
“There is not a single priest or deacon of the Archdiocese of New York against whom there has been a credible and substantiated claim of abuse against a minor currently in ministry,” Cardinal Timothy Dolan said.
Most of those named in the list were ordained before 1969 and many are deceased. Those still living have been removed from the ministry and defrocked.
Because of this, many believe the list should have been released years ago.
Robert Hoss, who heads the nonprofit Road to Recovery and helps victims of sexual abuse, says he’s not sure if the list ever would have been made public.
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“He made it very clear that he wasn’t going to release these,” Hoss said. “So, this is a good first step.”
Hoss says that the list still doesn’t cover the full scope of abuse in the Catholic Church.
“Cardinal Dolan must also include the religious order — clergymen and also any externs, those are priests who come from any diocese and other countries,” he said.
He did credit the Catholic Church for talking more about this issue and says the secrecy in the past has only hurt the institution.
After the list was made public, Cardinal Dolan pledged to continue to work to bring perpetrators to justice.
"We must continue to be vigilant to make certain that the failings of the past are not repeated," Dolan wrote in a statement. "I pledge again today that I will do all in my power to ensure the safety of our young people, and to react with sympathy, understanding, and respect towards those who come forward with an allegation of abuse.”