Law Firm Preparing to Name North Country Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse

By Larry Robinson
Watertown Daily News
March 14, 2018

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news05/law-firm-preparing-to-name-north-country-priests-accused-of-sexual-abuse-20180314

A Minnesota-based law firm representing victims of child sexual abuse plans to release reports today that contain the identities, histories and background information on 27 priests accused of sexual offenses against minors in the Diocese of Syracuse and the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

The event will be streamed live on Facebook at 10 a.m. from the Marriott Syracuse Downtown Conference Center, according to a news release from the law firm of Jeff Anderson & Associates.

The news conference link is https://www.facebook.com/AndersonAdvocates/

Jeff Anderson & Associates is one of the nation’s leading law firms representing victims of childhood sexual abuse, according to its website.

The separate reports to be released today will identify 19 Diocese of Syracuse priests and another eight priests from the Diocese of Ogdensburg, according to the firm. All of the priests allegedly stand accused of sexual offenses against minors.

The reports will include not only the names of the priests, but their histories in the church and other information, according to the law firm.

During the press conference, discussion will take place regarding the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Programs now open to some sexual abuse survivors in both dioceses.

Lawyers will also call on diocesan officials to release the names and information on all priests accused of sexual abuse — not just some.

The press event will also serve as a platform to encourage other sexual abuse survivors to come forward, according to the press release.

The law firm’s decision to name names comes on the heels of a decision by Catholic officials in Ogdensburg to begin compensating many of those who have alleged sexual abuse at the hands of priests in the north country.

On March 1, the Diocese of Ogdensburg announced that it is allowing an independent, two-person panel to determine whether financial compensation will be given to those alleging sexual abuse as children.

The allegations of the sexual abuse of children date back decades, according to a spokesman for the church.

The new “Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program” was created to assist victims of clergy sex abuse, church officials said.

In Ogdensburg, allegations of abuse by priests go back to the 1940s, according to the church.