Fr. Patrick O. Sexton
Sexton was accused of child sexual abuse in 1983 and sent to counseling. In 2001 a man filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Sexton sexually abused him at St. Cecilia’s in Greenpoint when he was 8-years-old in 1979. Three accusers were known by 6/2002. In a massive suit filed 10/1/2003 in which 27 people alleged abuse by 24 priests, a male plaintiff alleged abuse by Sexton as a child around 1982-1985. Sexton was placed on leave in 1990. He worked as a part-time parochial school teacher until 2000. On 6/25/2004 he was removed from ministry. He was laicized 4/7/2006. A new suit was filed in 7/2021 under the NY Child Victims Act by a man alleging Sexton sexually abused him as a 10-year-old altar boy in 1979 and 1980 at St. Cecilia’s. Sexton’s personnel file, ordered released by a judge in 1/2026, show that the Diocese knew of allegations against the priest as early as 1977, shortly after his ordination.
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