NY Archdiocese Releases Comprehensive List

By Colleen Wilson
Westchester Journal News
April 26, 2019

https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2019/04/26/priest-sexual-abuse-ny-archdiocese-releases-comprehensive-list/3587815002/

The Archdiocese of New York released a list of 120 priests credibly accused of sexual impropriety, including several with local connections. Two priests and a deacon served at Holy Name of Mary Church in Croton-on-Hudson. (Photo: File photo/The Journal News)

One hundred and twenty names of Catholic clergy members accused of child abuse or possession of child pornography was released today by the Archdiocese of New York.

The list includes 53 men who have been deemed by the archdiocese "credibly accused," another eight are awaiting a final determination from the church, and 58 men on the list had accusations that didn't meet the "credibly accused" criteria, but their victims were considered eligible for compensation, according to the Archdiocese website.

None are in active ministry. Some were defrocked, and others have died.

Among them are clergy who served in the Lower Hudson Valley, including priests Gennaro Gentile and Kenneth Jesselli as well as deacon Albert Mazza, all who served in Holy Name of Mary in Croton-on-Hudson, former president of Archbishop Stepinac High School John O'Keefe and Ralph LaBelle, who served as a priest in the Sacred Heart in Patterson.

The Rev. Gennaro "Jerry" Gentile in 1971. The Archdiocese of New York has paid $750,000 to three men who were abused by the former Croton-on-Hudson priest when they were children. (Photo: File photo)

The Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program was created in 2016 to determine compensation for victims of Catholic priest abuse. More than 350 individuals have been received compensation through the program.

Monsignor John O'Keefe in a file photo from May 12, 2000. (Photo: The Journal News, file)

A review board for the program determines those "credibly accused" if they meet at least one of the following criteria:

the allegation is found credible and substantiated;

the accused was laicized or permanently removed from ministry as a result of the allegation;

the accused admitted the allegation; the accused was convicted of a crime in connection with the allegation;

a civil settlement resulted from an allegation prior to the creation of the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program

The list of priests can be found here.