EAST SETAUKET (NY)
Times Beacon Record
February 21, 2018
By Alex Petroski and Sara-Megan Walsh
A group of lawyers is working to deliver a clear message to survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of clergy members: You are not alone.
Lawyers Helping Survivors of Child Sex Abuse, a national team of attorneys, released a report Feb. 5 detailing allegations of childhood sexual abuse made against 51 individuals associated with the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The report, titled Hidden Disgrace II, is comprised of clergy referenced but not named in a 2003 Suffolk County grand jury investigation of the diocese, those accused in previous media reports and individuals accused by survivors.
The goal of the report was to create a central location where Long Islanders can easily find information about accused clergy members, to empower survivors and to enlighten communities to the abusers’ diocese appointments, according to Jerry Kristal, an attorney at the law firm Weitz & Luxenberg, who joined up with the law group behind the report.
At least one North Shore survivor has felt empowered and publicly shared his story in the aftermath of the report’s release.
The group is also working to make the public aware of the April 30 deadline to file a claim with the diocese compensation program for victims of abuse.
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