CROTON-ON-HUDSON (NY)
Ossining Patch
December 12, 2017
By Lanning Taliaferro
The Journal News reports a $750K settlement. It’s part of the NY Archdiocese’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program.
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY — The Archdiocese of New York has paid $750,000 to three men who were abused as children by former Hudson Valley priest Gennaro Gentile, The Journal News reports. Gentile served in Catholic churches in Croton-on-Hudson, Poughkeepsie, Tuckahoe and Yonkers, according to lohud.com.
He was removed from the priesthood in 2005.
TJN reporter Jorge Fitzgibbon talked to an attorney for the men, who were Gentile’s victims at Holy Name of Mary Church in Croton. “I think the problem is that the church, at that time, was essentially protecting them,” Joe O’Connor told him. “I mean, that’s the whole story. If you look at the record at how many times Gentile was moved, I think that’s the real harm, that they didn’t reach out and discipline.”
Holy Name had two priests accused of sex abuse, Gentile and the man who replaced him, The Rev. Kenneth Jesselli.
The settlements are under the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, which began in March. Church officials launched an outreach effort in an attempt to locate potential victims who have yet to come forward with sex-abuse claims.
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