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This post is one in a partnership between the Rochester Beacon and veteran reporter Gary Craig, featuring articles published on his Substack site.
A key transparency provision of the Diocese of Rochester bankruptcy—the public availability of records of the abuse inflicted on children by diocese-affiliated individuals—has yet to be resolved six months after the bankruptcy settlement was approved.
When approved, attorneys involved with the bankruptcy indicated that the University of Rochester would be a likely landing spot for the records. However, the university declined.
This week, a diocese attorney said that St. John Fisher University is a possible location for the records. SJFU officials say that no firm agreement is yet in place.
“While we have received the request, we have not made any final decisions or agreements at this time,” SJFU spokeswoman Kate Torok said in an email.
Apparently, URochester made its decision shortly after the September settlement.
In October, “after a careful review, University of Rochester Libraries decided not to accept the non-privileged paper documents from the Diocese of Rochester’s bankruptcy hearing into the collections of the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation,” URochester spokeswoman Sara Miller said in an email.
It’s unclear whether the universities are balking at the idea of housing thousands of pages of harrowing tales of child abuse and pedophilia, but, whatever the reason, an important non-monetary provision of the settlement remains unresolved.
Access key for survivors
“Having access to these documents is more important than anything,” says John McHugh, one of the survivors with the settlement.
McHugh’s statements—the survivors provided written accounts of the abuse—tell of how he was, when 10, victimized by a priest in Honeoye Falls. The abuse continued for him over four years, McHugh says.
He says that, as painful as it will be, he wants to be able to read the stories of others who suffered as he did.
For too long, McHugh says, he thought he was the cause of his own abuse. The records will also show how diocesan officials did little to protect the youth.
“I will have proof that they knew about it,” he says.
The $246 million settlement was approved in bankruptcy court in September, bringing the six-year bankruptcy to closure. In recent weeks I have heard from some survivors unhappy with the pace of the expected payments and what they say are too few details about the specifics of payment decisions.
To be fair, I’ve heard from a few survivors, not a number that can be used to say there is ample discontent. But I am planning a follow-up, likely for next week, with more details about the settlement aftermath.
I also hope to be able to speak more of the issue with the records and where they may go. The Diocese of Buffalo is also now trying to move to a similar settlement, and the agreement is expected to include provisions for the public accessibility of records.
If you are a survivor who would like to discuss the settlement, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
Gary Craig is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer. A retired Democrat and Chronicle reporter, he now writes on Substack.
The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. See “Leave a Reply” below to discuss on this post. Comments of a general nature may be submitted to the Letters page by emailing [email protected].
6 years and counting. Not a word about payouts. I’m sure the lawyers are making money dragging this out. They should pay us interest. I just want to be done with this.
I to am a survivor of sexual abuse by clergy belonging to the Rochester Catholic Archdioces. The sick pedophile priest that abused me . Effectively destroyed my innocence my trust in anyone in a authoritarian role. My religious beliefs my self worth and confidence. I blamed my self. This led me down some very dark roads. Alcohol and drug abuse, promiscuity and a whole hearted attempt at self destruction. What that man did to me affected every aspect of my life. I still suffer from chronic nightmares. Difficulties sleeping and PTSD. There is no amount.of money that would make me feel that justice was served. How do you put a price on a entire lifetime destroyed. And on top of all of this. Being part of the law suit that took six years. Was like being abused all over again. It was as if the bandage i put on this horrific wound was torn back off. Exposing me once again to the torturous effects of being groomed, raped and sexualy and physically assaulted by this depraved priest. It’s now been six months since the conclusion of this Tort. I still haven’t received one penny! Once again, I feel like I’m being abused by the very system that was suppose to bring us justice. Enough is enough. The lawyers have made hundreds of thousands of dollars of us. I bet they have been paid. They get 33and 1/3% from every victim in this tort. There was over 500 of us. Due the math. As always in this country and our governmental and judicial system. Money is God. It’s disgraceful that the survivors of these pedophile priests are the ones who end up with less than the attorneys. Personally they could keep there evil gains if I could see that sick son of a bitch in prison. But that’s not to be. Most of them are dead. And on top of all ofthis. Is the Catholic Churches depraved indifference to what there priests were doing. Literally, hiding the truth, and covering up for these scum. Moving them to different parishes. Knowing full well that doing so was only giving them a new opportunity to sexualy sbuse more children. The magnitude of this problem is right up there with the Epstein files, and our elected pedophile president. I do not even recognize our country anymore. Or the people in our government. It’s both heartbreaking, and terrifying.
If this has been settled, burn them and erect a monument with the names of those who are guilty for the abuse, clearly listed. Their name and title shamed publicly, for all to see, forever.
The Catholic Church. One of the wealthiest organizations on the planet. Have flat out fought tooth and nail to give as little compensation as possible to the survivors of there Pedophile priests abuse. The average pay out per person is around five hundred thousand dollars each for over 500 victims. The net settlement was two hundred and forty seven million. All of us survivors were sexualy, physically, and psychologically abused by these Pedophile priests in our early teens. We are now in our late sixties. So for an entire lifetime destroyed. Fifty plus years. The five hundred thousand dollar payouts, minus the 33 and one third % payout per victim to the attorneys. Comes out to approximately, fivehundred dollars a month in compensation for over five hundred lifetimes destroyed. This is not even covering medical,and mental health bills directly associated with this horrific abuse. Then the pain and suffering . Then if you also add on the churches whole hearted attempts at hiding these horrific crimes and the negligence involved that allowed many more children to be sexualy abused because of the Churches deception. Like moving known pedophile priests to another parish. Full well knowing, by doing so .Will give these pedophiles more opportunities to sexually assault many more children. It’s just another slap in the face for every victim of these perverted priests, and the organization that allowed this to go on for decades. Probably centuries. This is evildoers, once again walking away. Relatively unscathed. It’s a abomination.