Survivors Describe Decades of Abuse by Priests During Diocese of Ogdensburg, NY Bankruptcy Testimony

Photo: St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg; via Wikipedia.

More than a dozen survivors testified in federal bankruptcy court on Monday, describing how they were sexually abused as children by Catholic priests in the Diocese of Ogdensburg and how the trauma has affected their lives for decades. The individuals who spoke have all filed lawsuits under New York’s Child Victims Act, alleging that the diocese failed to prevent abuse, ignored warnings, and protected abusive clergy instead of protecting children, a Dec. 1 report published at Northern New York 360/Watertown Daily Times detailed.

The Diocese of Ogdensburg, which oversees parishes from Watertown to Plattsburgh and through the Adirondack region, is facing 138 lawsuits brought under the Child Victims Act. Many of the allegations date back to the 1950s and 1960s, while others occurred in the 1990s and 2000s. Men and women told the court that priests used their authority and access to children to groom, isolate, and sexually abuse them, and that the harm has followed them throughout their lives.

The diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in response to the large volume of claims, allowing it to reorganize its finances, sell assets, and attempt to compensate survivors while continuing church operations. Bishop Terry R. LaValley has said the filing was intended to preserve the church’s presence in the region while addressing the civil claims.

In the Albany courtroom, survivors described how the abuse shaped every part of their lives. Many of the men had been altar boys or part of families strongly connected to the church. Several women said they once hoped to join religious life. After the abuse, many turned to substances or other forms of addiction, while others described lifelong struggles with mental illness, anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, and complex post traumatic stress disorder. A number spoke about attempts to end their lives. One man from Massena told the court, “I am blown away by the similarities, in these stories and in their outcomes.”

Some of those who testified said they came from homes where they felt overlooked or unsupported, and that the church had seemed like a safe place. They said abusive priests in parishes and Catholic schools exploited that trust. Many described being singled out by a priest, taken into private rooms, and abused under the guise of guidance or religious instruction. In some cases the abuse was described as immediate and aggressive, while in others it followed years of grooming. One sister and brother both testified that the same priest abused them in nearly identical ways.

A number of survivors said others in the church were aware of the abuse but did nothing. In many cases the priests were never reported to law enforcement or removed from ministry. Some were quietly reassigned to other parishes or schools, where survivors later learned they continued working with children.

The survivors spoke of deep shame, difficulty trusting others, and damaged relationships with partners, parents, siblings, and children. One man told the bishop, “Sex abuse victims don’t feel honest with themselves or with others. You can’t look anyone in the eye.” He asked Bishop LaValley directly whether the church could ever repair the harm.

In one testimony delivered through an attorney, a woman described how a priest groomed her and then abused her in ways that incorporated prayer and religious ritual. She said the experience destroyed her faith, caused lifelong distrust of men, and damaged her relationships with her husband and son, with devastating consequences for her family. In her written statement, she said, “This has affected me to the bone, inflicting so much pain I know I will never recover. I will never forgive Father Bruce, or the Catholic Church.”

Not all survivors felt the same way about the current leadership. Some blamed the diocese directly, while others expressed complicated feelings or chose to remain connected to the church. A few shook the bishop’s hand as they finished speaking, and one man hugged him, saying, “I could use your help.”

The statements given during Monday’s proceedings will be sealed as part of the bankruptcy case and will not be publicly released. Survivors who filed Child Victims Act claims may receive compensation through the bankruptcy process, though likely less than they might have been awarded outside of bankruptcy. The diocese has been ordered to negotiate through mediation with a federal bankruptcy judge overseeing the process. While reorganization continues, the 138 lawsuits remain on hold.

Some survivors expressed frustration that the bankruptcy process feels drawn out or exhausting. Others said the chance to speak directly to church leadership was meaningful, but not enough. Several urged Bishop LaValley to create systems that would make future abuse impossible. One man said, “You must build a system where what happened to me and other children isn’t just condemned, it’s impossible.”