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Attorneys: Diocese Still Paying out Benefits to Abusive Priests

WHAM TV
October 25, 2019

https://www.weny.com/story/41232306/attorneys-diocese-still-paying-out-benefits-to-abusive-priests

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHAM) -- The Diocese of Rochester's appearance in a U.S. federal courtroom Thursday was mostly procedural.

However, it was a pivotal day for some survivors of clergy abuse as it was the first time they confronted diocesan leaders in an actual courtroom during bankruptcy proceedings.

“It makes it real," said survivor Carol DuPree . "This isn’t about dollar signs. This is about people’s lives."

DuPree is one on a nine-member committee comprised of nine sex abuse survivors who have filed claims against the diocese under New York's Child Victims Act. Their role is to represent all abuse claimants and offer input on how the diocese might compensate them.

13WHAM learned Thursday that the diocese is still paying out dental and medical benefits to seven priests who are known to the Catholic Church to have sexually abused children.

Attorneys for survivors say they aren’t pursuing to have those benefits cut. Attorneys for the diocese say those benefits are due to run out at the end of the year.

“The committee felt it was important for the Court to understand the diocese has been supporting these people in a time when survivors didn’t have access to justice,” said attorney James Stang.

Stang described the other proceedings as ‘procedural,’ they include decisions like the government allowing the diocese to maintain payroll, credit cards, and bank accounts.

DuPree was one of two committee members to appear in court Thursday. She said she was pleased at how the first proceedings went Thursday.

“The creditors need a voice, said DuPree. “To just have the diocese working with the federal government leaves a blank, we fill in that blank by being there because we’re the ones who have been hurt by this experience and they need our voice there.”

Although each side wants to keep things moving, bankruptcy Judge Paul Warren indicated it could be some time before settlements are reached.

He ended Thursday’s hearing by saying, “We’re going to be at this a while.”

 

 

 

 

 




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