Re-opening of NY courts exposes 11 newly accused clerics

Eleven priests who have not appeared on any lists of accused clerics—either court documents, diocese lists, or press reports—have been named as alleged predators in new lawsuits filed against the Catholic Archdiocese of New York this week.

The 11 were named in a press release today, which also announced 59 new lawsuits.

The priests publicly accused for the first time are:

Father Gerald Boyle, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1969 to 1970 at St. John’s in Goshen, NY

Father Francis Doersam, accused of sexually abusing a minor in approximately 1964 at St. Joseph’s in New York, NY

Father Joseph Faraone, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1973 to 1976 at St. Francis of Assisi in Mount Kisco, NY

Father Robert E. Gallagher, accused of sexually abusing a minor in approximately 1967 at Sacred Heart of Jesus in New York, NY

Father Tilak Jayawardene, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1983 to 1986 at Our Lady of Solace in Bronx, NY

Father James Kenny, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1970 to 1971 at St. Michael’s Home in Staten Island, NY

Father John Larkin, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1977 to 1979 at Sacred Heart in Mount Vernon, NY

Father George W. Moore, accused of sexually abusing a minor in approximately 1959, while at St. Mary in Wappinger Falls, NY

Father Peter Raich, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1980 to 1985 at St. Francis de Sales in New York, NY

Father Alfonso Solimene, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1969-1971 at St. Joan of Arc in Bronx, NY

Father Robert Trainor, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1970 to 1972 at St. Rose of Lima in New York, NY

Why is this important?

Cardinal Dolan and the Archdiocese of New York have used their Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Plan (IRCP) since 2017/18 to compensate victims of child sexual abuse by diocesan priests.

We do not know if any of the men listed above were named by survivors in their IRCP claims.

Why?

The church set up the IRCP programs so that church officials are not required to tell us. They leave the heavy lifting—telling the media and warning the communities about the risks that these alleged predators pose—to the survivors.

It shouldn’t be that way. The church should be and do better. But then, why should we expect anything different?

If anyone has information about lawsuits, IRCP settlements, or accused clerics in NY, feel free to contact me here.

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