Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
1970-2024 · 54 years · show in timeline

Diocese of Brooklyn 1970 to 2024: New York Attorney General finds delayed proceedings, concealed reasons for resignations and unsupervised accused priests; diocese must appoint an external monitor

From September 2018 the New York State Attorney General investigated the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn over its handling of abuse allegations against clergy and reviewed files on 33 priests. In an agreement of April 2024 the office found that even after the 2002 reforms the diocese did not always follow its own rules: it applied inconsistent standards, delayed proceedings, inadequately monitored accused priests and let public misstatements stand, such as that a priest who had admitted abuse had resigned for health reasons. Before 2002 it had failed to investigate numerous allegations adequately. The diocese does not admit the findings but agreed to an independent monitor for three years.

Period
1970-2024 (54 years)
Country
United States
Institutions
Diocese of Brooklyn
Category
Sexual abuse, Cover-up
Level of evidence
A Primary source · what does this mean?

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

  1. Case history Father A: in 2002 the Queens District Attorney told the diocese it would prosecute him for first-degree sodomy if the statute of limitations had not run. He falsely told his congregation he was going on vacation; the diocese did not correct this. During the investigation he coached basketball and baseball without the diocese checking whether children were involved. In 2004 he was indicted for abusing an altar boy between 2000 and 2002, at a time when the diocese knew of earlier allegations but had not removed him from ministry. Father B admitted in 1994 to abusing a minor and with the diocese's consent officially resigned for health reasons; the diocese kept paying his insurance and only corrected the account in 2019.
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, Abs. 52, Father A
    „they would prosecute [Fr. A] for First Degree Sodomy“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, Abs. 52, Father A. Original
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, Abs. 52, Father A
    „falsely represented that he was going on vacation. The OAG has seen no evidence“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, Abs. 52, Father A. Original
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, Abs. 52, Father A
    „when the Diocese was aware of other Abuse Allegations“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, Abs. 52, Father A. Original
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, Abs. 53, Father B
    „In 1994, Fr. B admitted to sexually abusing a minor and resigned from ministry,“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, Abs. 53, Father B. Original
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, Abs. 53, Father B
    „The Diocese continued to pay Fr. B's insurance and therapy bills.“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, Abs. 53, Father B. Original

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. On 6 September 2018 the Attorney General served the diocese with a subpoena for documents; the office reviewed files on 33 clergy, including 18 against whom allegations were deemed credible or admitted. The diocese has publicly identified 72 clergy with credible or admitted allegations. In Assurance No. 24-043 it does not admit the office's findings but commits to improved policies and an independent monitor for at least three years.
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, I.A.1, S. 3
    „On September 6, 2018, the OAG served a Subpoena Duces Tecum“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, I.A.1, S. 3. Original
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, I.A.1, S. 3
    „including 18 Clergy members against whom the Abuse Allegations had been deemed "credible"“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, I.A.1, S. 3. Original
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, I.F.i, S. 17
    „the Diocese has publicly identified 72 Clergy against whom the“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, I.F.i, S. 17. Original
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, Präambel, S. 2
    „The Diocese does not admit the findings, conclusions, and determinations by the Attorney“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, Präambel, S. 2. Original
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, Abs. 70
    „The Independent Monitor's term will expire three years after the Effective Date of this“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, Abs. 70. Original

Background

Response of the Church

  1. The Attorney General took into account that before 2002 the diocese in numerous cases failed to investigate allegations adequately and did nothing to ensure that credibly accused clergy had no further contact with minors. Even after 2002 the review board and the bishop applied inconsistent and at times heightened standards, resulting in incorrect determinations; accused priests, including those confined to a life of prayer and penance, were not adequately monitored; proceedings were delayed for long periods.
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, I.F.i, S. 16 f.
    „instances prior to 2002 where the Diocese received Abuse or Improper Conduct Allegations and“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, I.F.i, S. 16 f.. Original
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, I.A.4, S. 4
    „resulted in inconsistent and, at 1times, incorrect determinations“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, I.A.4, S. 4. Original
    Evidence: Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau, I.F.iv, Abs. 46
    „relegated to a life of prayer and penance, were not adequately monitored by the Diocese“
    In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, I.F.iv, Abs. 46. Original

See also

Original documents to read

  1. Government report
    Attorney General of the State of New York, Charities Bureau: In the Matter of the Investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Assurance of Discontinuance No. 24-043, 16 April 2024. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
Change log (1)

The change log is kept in German only.

  • : Aufgenommen

Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.