Archdiocese to announce sex abuse crisis response recommendations today

By Isabel Keane
Journal News
September 30, 2019

https://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2019/09/30/recommendation-how-archdiocese-should-respond-sexual-abuse-crisis-study-lawsuits/3813695002/

Cardinal Timothy Dolan addresses a news conference at the offices of the New York Archdiocese, in New York, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York said that it has hired former federal judge Barbara Jones, left, to review its procedures and protocols for handling allegations of sexual abuse. Photo by Richard Drew

Findings and recommendations for how the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York should respond to the sexual abuse crisis will be shared this morning. 

Some 290 lawsuits were filed against the eight dioceses of the Catholic Church in New York state, 110 of which were filed against the archdiocese on the first day that suits could be filed, The Journal News/lohud previously reported. 

Former federal judge and prosecutor Barbara S. Jones, who is serving as special counsel and independent investigator for the archdiocese, will share her findings at a news conference 9 a.m. at the Catholic Center in New York.

Jones was tasked by Cardinal Timothy Dolan to procure a comprehensive and exhaustive study of the policies, procedures and protocols of the archdiocese in its response to allegations of abuse from a young person by a priest, deacon or a bishop of the archdiocese. 

Jones also is assisting in developing new protocols for dealing with allegations of abuse against adults in positions of power. She will summarize her findings and recommend how the archdiocese should respond to the sexual abuse crisis.