ROCHESTER (NY)
Spectrum News 1 [Buffalo, NY]
September 5, 2025
By Wendy Wright and Spectrum News Staff
One of the largest settlements under the Child Victims Act unfolded in a federal court in Rochester on Friday.
Nearly 500 survivors of child sex abuse walked away saying they are relieved and ready to move on.
“The healing can start now, which is more important than the money,” said Gregory Stanley. “I’m just glad it’s over.”
“Relief,” said Merle Sweet. “It’s all finally over.”
“I am actually, for the first time, excited for the future,” said John McHugh.
After years of waiting, the settlement between the survivors of child sex abuse and the Catholic Diocese of Rochester is now settled. The move took place inside a federal bankruptcy court.
“This is a milestone day for survivors in the Rochester area after being the first bankruptcy filed in New York after the passage of the CVA,” said bankruptcy attorney Ilan Scharf. “We’ve had to fight many fights in courtrooms and mediations to get this level of compensation for folks.”
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who represents 97 victims, said a judge approved the $246 million settlement.
“For the clergy sexual abuse survivors, it has been a grueling six-year process of obtaining validation and saying no to immorality,” Garabedian said in a statement. “By coming forward, survivors have helped themselves try to heal, helped other survivors try to heal and made the world a safer place for children. The survivors in the Diocese of Rochester bankruptcy action have set forth an example of determination for all survivors worldwide to gain inspiration from.”
That translates to an average of approximately half-a-million dollars for each survivor.
“I’ve met people that are very brave and very, very moved. This was a real wounding of a lot of people and their families. There’s literally thousands upon thousands of people that have been negatively affected by what happened to us,” said survivor Carol Dupre.
After wearing black for years, Dupre dressed in white on Friday, moving out of the darkness.
“I’m going to have some color put back into my life,” she said.
Inside the courtroom, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, Salvatore Matano, addressed the media.
“I pray that this is certainly a step toward their healing,” he said. “I apologize to them. I deeply regret what transpired in their lives, which, as the judge said, never should have happened.”
The bishop went on to say he will always pray for the survivors.
“While this process legally concludes today, I take them in my heart every day of my life, and every time I approach the altar, they will be in my memory, asking the good Lord to give them the strength and the courage to continue on, and that they be blessed in the years ahead,” said Matano.