Fr. Thomas J. O’Rourke
Named in a 10/2002 lawsuit with 11 other priests and a religious brother, in which 43 men and women claimed abuse. Per the suit, O’Rourke repeatedly sexually abused an altar boy at Corpus Christi parish in Woodside, NY where he was assigned in the 1960s. Also named in a 10/2003 suit in which 27 plaintiffs alleged abuse by 24 priests. One said O’Rourke abused him at age 14 in 1974 on a trip to the Naval Academy. Settled. Another later claimed abuse in the 1960s. O’Rourke died 6/11/1998. Included on the diocese’s list in 2/2019. Accused in a suit filed in 9/2019 under the NY Child Victims Act.
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