Croton Parishioners, Survivors Group React to Abuse Charges against Dismissed Deacon

By Marcela Rojas
The Journal News
September 30, 2013

http://www.lohud.com/article/20130930/NEWS/309300050/Croton-parishioners-survivors-group-react-deacon-s-dismissal-over-abuse-charges

Archbishop Timothy Dolan celebrates the Liturgy of the Eucharist with from left, the Rev. Loyola Amalraj, Deacon Albert Mazza and the Rev. Michael Keane, after the consecration of the new altar at the Church of the Holy Name of Mary in Croton, May 31, 2009

CROTON-ON-HUDSON — The pain of leaving the Church of the Holy Name of Mary some 10 years ago came rushing back to Georgianna Grant after learning Monday that a deacon there had been dismissed following allegations of sexual abuse of minors years ago.

Grant had been a member of the parish for 50 years. Holy Name, she said, was where her husband was baptized, they married and christened their eight children. But she left in 2003 after two Holy Name pastors were defrocked for similar allegations.

“I miss dreadfully the heritage, the Gregorian chant, the candles. But I can’t support the hypocrisy,” Grant said. “I just couldn’t take it any longer. This newest situation doesn’t raise my comfort level.”

Parishioners were told during Sunday Masses through a letter read to them by Cardinal Timothy Dolan that Albert Mazza was accused of engaging in immoral and illegal conduct with minors prior to becoming a deacon in 1996. Authorities could not bring charges against Mazza because the statute of limitations had expired.

On Monday, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, a national group that supports people victimized by clergy, issued a statement criticizing Dolan for keeping the allegations from the community in the months following Mazza’s leave.

“Dolan claims he suspended Mazza months ago, but we see no evidence that he made this public in any way. That’s reckless and irresponsible,” stated SNAP Outreach Director Barbara Dorris. “The accusations against Mazza should have been announced — far and wide — when they were made. Or they should have been announced — far and wide — when he was allegedly suspended months ago.”

The statement also blasts the cardinal for asking individuals with any information on the matter to contact the archdiocese’s victims assistance coordinators, not police.

Archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling rejected SNAP’s criticism.

“We followed our policy and procedures. As soon as the review board had acted and made their recommendation that Deacon Mazza be removed from the ministry, we notified the parish and even invited anyone who had information to share to contact us,” Zwilling said. “This criticism is completely baseless and shows that this organization is only interested in attacking bishops.”

Mazza declined comment when reached Monday.