ROCHESTER (NY)
WHAM
July 7, 2020
By Jane Flasch
For 32 years, Matthew Clark led the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.
The former bishop now admits publicly that the diocese kept secret archives and priests accused of sexual abuse were allowed to continue to serve, sometimes moving from parish to parish.
The statements are contained in a three-hour deposition given in March as part of bankruptcy proceedings. The legal transcript was released to the public Monday.
“I just want to see the truth come out,” said Carol Dupre, who has filed a sexual abuse lawsuit.
She says she was just a teenager when she was first molested by her parish priest back in 1962. During his deposition Bishop Clark said he didn’t recall allegations about Rev. Stuart Hogan or some of the other 50 priests he was asked about.
In other cases, his memory was clear.
For example, he said Rev. Eugene Emo was sent away for treatment, then reassigned to a Livingston County parish – but with no restrictions on access to children.
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