Diocese of Albany Hit with Multiple Clergy Abuse Lawsuits
Posted on: August 13, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Albany will soon have to review more than 50 new clergy sexual abuse allegations dating back 60 years. New York’s Child Victims Act, which was extended, has paved the way for survivors of childhood clergy abuse in New York to hold New York’s Catholic Dioceses accountable.
The Diocese of Albany will soon have to review more than 50 new clergy sexual abuse allegations dating back 60 years. New York’s Child Victims Act, which was extended, has paved the way for survivors of childhood clergy abuse in New York to hold New York’s Catholic Dioceses accountable.
Three New York Catholic Dioceses have already declared bankruptcy including Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse. The Diocese of Albany, to this point, has remained solvent and not sought bankruptcy protection as a way to shield itself from clergy sexual abuse payouts.
The recent flood of lawsuits against the Diocese of Albany is coming from a team of two law firms working together for survivor rights. Due to the Covoid-19 pandemic, the courts only recently opened back up providing the first window of opportunity to file cases in nearly three months.
The law firms publicly identified 20 new clerics for the first time in a new release. The new names, as displayed in the release, include:
- The Rev. Charles A. Gaffigan, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1992 to 1994 at what was then Holy Infancy in Lake Luzerne.
- The Rev. Edward F. English, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1962 to 1964 at St. George in Pittstown.
- Sister Marionella Graham, C.S.J., accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1961 to 1962 at St. Joseph in Green Island.
- Sister Rosara Anne, C.S.J., accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1963 to 1964 at St. Joseph in Green Island.
- Sister Giovanna Marie, C.S.J., accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1964 to 1965 at St. Joseph in Green Island.
- The Rev. Francis Hartigan, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1964 to 1969 at St. Ambrose in Latham and St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany.
- The Rev. Francis Husselbeck, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1982 to 1985 at St. Agnes-St. Patrick in Cohoes.
- The Rev. Andrew J. Lenahan, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1960 to 1963 at Holy Family in Stottville.
- Sister Bernadette Marie, R.S.M., accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1966 to 1967 at St. Teresa of Avila in Albany.
- Sister Mercedes Graber, R.S.M., accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1978 to 1981 at Mercy High School in Albany.
- The Rev. Gregory J. Mulhall, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1983 to 1984 at Church of the Annunciation in Ilion.
- Sister Eileen Patrice, C.S.J., accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1961 to 1962 at St. Joseph in Schenectady.
- The Rev. Guy Puglisi, accused of sexually abusing two minors at St. Teresa of Avila in Albany, one in approximately 1974 to 1975 and the other in approximately 1976.
- The Rev. John J. Rooney, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1973 to 1974 at Sacred Heart of Jesus in Albany.
- The Rev. Vincent J. Ciotoli, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1979 to 1983 at St. Patrick in Troy.
- The Rev. Ignatius Rossi, O.F.M., accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1957 to 1960 at St. Anthony of Padua in Troy.
- The Rev. Anthony Sidoti, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1970 to 1971
- The Rev. Robert Taylor, accused of sexually abusing a minor in approximately 1981 at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Albany.
- The Rev. Bernard Turner, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1981 to 1982 at St. Patrick in Ravena.
- Sister Barbara Wood, R.S.M., accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1974 to 1978 at St. Patrick in Watervliet.
The entire article can be viewed here.
Sexual Abuse Lawyer for New York Clergy Abuse Victims
If you or a loved one were a victim of sexual abuse within the Diocese of Albany or any other New York diocese, contact our firm today. Our law firm handles New York sexual abuse lawsuits and can help you understand how long you have to file a clergy abuse claim in the state of New York. Call us now at 1-800-941-7209 for a FREE and PRIVATE consultation.