ROCHESTER ()
WHAM-TV, Ch. 13 [Rochester NY]
July 30, 2025
By Steven Pappas
[Includes a three-and-a-half minute video that is somewhat more detailed than the printed report.]
Hundreds of sexual abuse survivors have taken a significant step toward justice and accountability, as they voted unanimously to accept a $246 million settlement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.
The settlement, which is part of the diocese’s bankruptcy plan, is expected to be approved by a judge Sept. 5.
The approval will pave the way for 475 survivors to begin receiving their payouts.
Carol DuPré, a 78-year-old survivor, expressed relief as the nearly six-year legal battle nears its conclusion.
“I’m seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, and I don’t think it’s another train,” DuPré said.
Reflecting on the lengthy process, she added, “It’s been six years. We’re going to be, like, six days shy of exactly six years, and we’re pretty exhausted.”
The legal proceedings began after the diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019, after numerous lawsuits were filed under the Child Victims Act.
DuPré, who came forward with her story in 2018, recounted being molested at age 15 by Father Stuart Hogan at St. Gregory’s in Marion. Hogan retired in 1965 and died in 1985.
Despite the settlement, DuPré emphasized that no amount of money can change history.
“If they gave us all $1 billion, it’s not going to fix what happened,” she said. “It’s not the answer to healing.”
However, she acknowledged that the process brought her healing and noted changes in fellow survivors over the years.
DuPré highlighted the sense of betrayal many survivors have lived with.
“Because they wanted to love God, and suddenly, someone who’s supposed to symbolize the love of God is doing something perverted and perverse, and it really messed up a lot of lives,” she said.
As this chapter closes, DuPré hopes survivors can look forward.
“I have other things that are going on in my life that I’ve had to kind of put on hold,” she said. “I hope that they will just get back and be satisfied and realize how important the recognition is and the accomplishment is, and their bravery for coming forward.”