ROCHESTER (NY)
WHAM TV
June 11, 2019
A new lawsuit was filed against the Diocese of Rochester and several other local Catholic organizations Monday evening over allegations of sexual abuse.
The lawsuit was filed Monday evening in Monroe County and names several prominent religious organizations as defendants, including the Catholic Youth Organization of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester, Most Holy Redeemer Paris and St. Bridget’s Church.
According to the complaint, the allegations center around Father Francis Vogt, who is the brother of Monsignor Joseph Vogt. Francis Vogt has been the subject of previous sexual abuse accusations.
In 1969, the victim – whose name is not being disclosed by 13WHAM News due to the sexual abuse detailed in the lawsuit – was taken by Father Vogt to the Catholic Charities Catholic Youth Organization facility on Chestnut Street to swim. The victim was 5 years old at the time.
For two years, allegations detailed in the lawsuit claim Father Vogt sexually assaulted, abused and had sexual contact at both the Chestnut Street facility and at the victim’s home.
The victim says the Diocese of Rochester and St. Bridget’s “had a duty not to aid pedophiles such as Father Vogt by assigning, maintaining, and/or appointing them to positions with access to minors.” The lawsuit goes on to claim the defendants knew or should have known about the abuse and covered it up.
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