ROCHESTER (NY)
Democrat and Chronicle [Rochester NY]
September 5, 2025
By Steve Howe, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Resolution of a sort came today for John McHugh, a survivor of child sex abuse by Catholic Church officials in the Diocese of Rochester. Maybe it was more of a new start, actually.
“I am, for the first time, excited for the future, because I can start to put some of this behind me and heal as best as I can,” McHugh said. “I won’t forget what happened but I can start to focus on the future instead of living in the past.”
Hear his comments in our video after the Sept. 5 federal bankruptcy court acceptance of a massive financial settlement that was years in the making.
Hear his comments in our video after the Sept. 5 federal bankruptcy court acceptance of a massive financial settlement that was years in the making.
Bishop Salvatore Matano also spoke and expressed sympathy for the survivors and additional thoughts.
— Steve Howe reports on weather, climate and the Great Lakes for the Democrat and Chronicle. An RIT graduate, he has covered myriad topics over the years, including public safety, local government, national politics and economic development in New York and Utah.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester NY Catholic sex abuse survivor speaks after court