Attorneys: Diocese still paying out benefits to abusive priests

ROCHESTER (NY)
WHAM TV

Oct. 25, 2019

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 DuPreè . “This isn’t about dollar signs. This is about people’s lives.”

DuPreè 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.

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