Protecting Our Children
Actions & Responses
COMMUNICATIONS ON REVIEW BOARD 2003 - PRESENT
April 16, 2024 – Diocese of Brooklyn Statement in Response to Attorney General Investigation
November 4, 2022 – Two Retired NYPD Veterans Among Newest Members of Diocesan Review Board
September 30, 2022 – Diocese of Brooklyn Announces Former NYPD Detective Appointed to Key Roles in the Office of Child Protection
January 31, 2022 – Bishop Brennan Accepts Recommendation of Diocesan Review Board; Pastor Removed from Ministry
November 22, 2021 – Diocese of Brooklyn Zero Tolerance Policy Leads to Removal of Priest From Ministry Following Investigation
July 15, 2021 – Former CYO Sports Director Named in Two Child Abuse Lawsuits
July 29, 2020 – A Letter to the Faith Community of Saint Pancras – August 1 & 2, 2020
August 13, 2019 – Diocese of Brooklyn Announces Decision Reached in Four Investigations
February 15, 2019- Diocese of Brooklyn Releases Names of Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse
January 21, 2019 – The Tablet: Laicized B’klyn Priest Still Cause For Concern
November 9, 2017 – Official Statement of the Diocese of Brooklyn
November 9, 2017 – NY Times: Brooklyn Diocese Names 8 Priests Who Sexually Abused Children
May 26, 2012 – Statement Regarding Msgr. Thomas Brady
October 22, 2011 – Bishop Places Retired Priest on Administrative Leave
January 30, 2010 – Priest Under Investigation for Inappropriate Behavior
May 16, 2009 – Bedford-Stuyvesant Pastor Removed Over Allegation of Sexual Abuse
June 2007 – Bishop Places Retired Pastor from Queens on an Administrative Leave
December 2007 – Queens Pastor Administrative Leave
November 2007 – Former Queens Pastor on Leave from Ministry
February 7, 2007 – Jamaica Pastor placed on Leave
April 29, 2006 – Bishop places Priest on Administrative Leave
October 29, 2005 – Bishop Comments on Priest’s Arrest
June 28, 2005 – Allegation against Priest Found to Be Credible
November 6, 2004 – Accusations Not Credible
August 23, 2004 – Official Statement by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio
August 14, 2004 – Pastor placed on Leave
July 3, 2004 – Charges against Priest found to be Credible
November 1, 2003 – Bishop Bars Priest from Active Ministry
GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS ON SEX ABUSE CRISIS
November 10, 2021 – Diocese of Brooklyn Creates Office For Protection of Children and Young People
November 10, 2021- Column Child Victims Act Lawsuits Reveal More Facts About Sexual Abuse Cases
August 14, 2019 – Statement By Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio As New York’s Child Victims Act Takes Effect
August 7, 2019 Column – The Continuing Fight vs. Sexual Abuse
October – November 2018 – Regional Meetings With The Faithful
October 3, 2018 – Bishop DiMarzio: We Cannot Remain at the Level of Regret
September 26, 2018 – Bishop DiMarzio: Evil Is Not the Last Word
November 21, 2018 – The Tablet: Bishop DiMarzio Holds A Dialogue With the Faithful About Sexual Abuse in the Church
August 29, 2018 – Bishop DiMarzio: Sorrow Is Not Enough
August 27, 2018 – Statement on the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report
April 18, 2018 – Bishop DiMarzio: A Mass for Hope and Healing
June 22, 2017 – Diocese of Brooklyn Announces Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program For Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse
June 22, 2017 – Bishop DiMarzio: Walking With the Sexually Abused
January 7, 2017 – New Support Group for Survivors of Sex Abuse Article
August 30, 2016 – Chancery Alert
August 20, 2016 – Chancery Alert
July 30, 2016 – Chancery Alert
April 16, 2016 – The Healing from Abuse Continues Column
April 16, 2016 – Protecting Children Safe Environment Office
April 9, 2016 – Prayers for continued Healing Guest column
March 19, 2016 Healing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse Column
March 19, 2016 – Chancery Alert
January 16, 2016 – Chancery Alert
January 16, 2016 – Parenting group offered for clergy abuse victims
October 17, 2015 – Protecting our Children Column
March 21, 2015 – Praying with Survivors of Sexual Abuse Column
July 20, 2013 – Introducing New Victim Assistance Coordinator
August 27, 2011 – Teacher Terminated over Abuse Allegations
June 11, 2011 – A Valuable Tool to Fight Sexual Abuse
May 18, 2011 –Statement on the John Jay Report
October, 2010 – Audit Diocese Found in Compliance
July 2, 2010 – New Norms for Sexual Abuse
April 17, 2010 – Column Justice and Forgiveness
April 25, 2009 – Column From Shadow to Light
Oct 4, 2008 – 43 People Trained to Teach Child Safety
December 22, 2007 – Audit Compliance
May 5, 2007 – Protecting Children Column
April 20, 2007 – Diocese Updates Policy-Sexual Abuse by Clergy
May 6, 2006 – Diocesan Services Respond to Sexual Abuse Allegations
January 28, 2006 – Diocese in Compliance with Child Safety
December 18, 2004 – Diocese Protects Kids from Pedophiles’ Lures
October 23, 2004 – Creating a Safe Environment for Children
September 11, 2004 – Toll Free Number to Report Sexual Abuse
August 7, 2004 – Diocesan Sex Abuse Hotline
February 28, 2004 – Statement by Bishop DiMarzio on Clergy Sexual Abuse
January 31, 2004 – Diocese Sets 4 Child Protection Workshops
The Diocese of Brooklyn has been working to ensure parishioners are fully informed of the sex abuse crisis from its historical beginning to what is going on now.
Here is a look at what the Diocese of Brooklyn does to protect children and help survivors.
REGIONAL MEETINGS
On four dates between October 17 and November 8, 2018, Bishop DiMarzio held Regional Meetings with the Lay Faithful of the Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens where parish leaders were able to ask him any questions they had about the clergy sex abuse crisis. Watch a video from the four meetings here:
CHANGES WE’VE MADE
OFFICE OF VICTIMS ASSISTANCE
Under the Dallas Charter, the Diocese of Brooklyn has established an Office of Victim Assistance. The office works to bring about a sense of hope and healing. We want victims to be able to become not just survivors, but thrivers. Our goal is to offer any and all assistance to help victims move through these stages.
Since 1995 and again in 2002, bishops of the United States have been putting policies and procedures into place to address clergy sex abuse in the church. Those policies are outlined in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (the “Dallas Charter”). While even one case is too many, given the evidence of so few cases in the last 16 years, these policies have proven effective.
Independent reporting line to authorities. Bishop DiMarzio established a toll-free reporting line (888) 634-4499 in 2003 for anyone to report sexual abuse by diocesan personnel. Reports are directly sent to law enforcement authorities. There is no diocesan involvement, to ensure compliance.
The Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service was launched in March 2020, to receive reports of sexual abuse and related misconduct by bishops and to relay those reports to proper Church authorities for investigation. Where a report includes a crime, such as the sexual abuse of a minor, it will also be reported to civil authorities. Otherwise, reports will be kept confidential. ReportBishopAbuse.org (800) 276-1562
Zero tolerance. Any credible accusation of sexual abuse of a minor against diocesan personnel results in permanent removal from ministry and/or employment.
Safe environment programs. The Dallas Charter mandates sex abuse awareness training for children and adults, signing the code of conduct, and conducting criminal background screenings. Priests, deacons, pastoral ministers, employees and volunteers are trained in recognizing signs of sexual abuse in children, the methods and means that offenders use, and steps to prevent abuse.
The only acceptable number of sex abuse cases is ZERO. While the abuse crisis is fundamentally a historical problem in our past, we will never become complacent when it comes to the protection of children and adults in our diocese.
ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS
Bishop DiMarzio has published a report entitled From Shadow to Light, and regularly addresses the sex abuse crisis in his weekly column in The Tablet, “Put Out Into the Deep.”
The Press Office of the Diocese of Brooklyn also continues to communicate the latest information on the sex abuse crisis to the media.
On September 24, 2018, Bishop DiMarzio released a letter to parishioners, addressing the New York State Attorney General subpoena to all NYS Catholic dioceses.
On August 14, 2019, the Diocese of Brooklyn posted the following information to help the faithful better understand the Child Victims Act (CVA) and some of the things the Diocese has done around this issue.
The Diocese of Brooklyn issued a press release on the CVA:
Bishop DiMarzio's video statement on the CVA:
Frequently Asked Questions on the CVA:
For press inquiries, contact:
Adriana Rodriguez
Press Secretary
(718) 517-3143
