Skip to content
Photo: St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan, under the purview of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the metropolitan see that oversees the Diocese of Rochester.; via Wikipedia.
Hundreds of sexual abuse survivors have unanimously voted to accept a $246 million settlement from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, marking perhaps the final milestone in the years-long effort to seek justice and accountability.
The settlement, part of the Diocese’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan, is set to be approved by a judge on September 5, according to a report from ABC News 13 WHAM. Once finalized, it will allow payouts to begin for 475 survivors whose claims were filed under New York’s Child Victims Act.
The legal process began in 2019 when the Diocese filed for bankruptcy amid a surge of clergy sexual abuse lawsuits. Survivors like 78-year-old Carol DuPré have waited nearly six years for resolution. DuPré came forward in 2018 with allegations that she was molested at age 15 by Father Stuart Hogan at St. Gregory’s in Marion. Hogan retired in 1965 and died in 1985.
“I’m seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, and I don’t think it’s another train,” DuPré said. “It’s been six years. We’re going to be, like, six days shy of exactly six years, and we’re pretty exhausted.”
While DuPré said the financial settlement cannot undo the past, she acknowledged the emotional and symbolic importance of the outcome. “If they gave us all $1 billion, it’s not going to fix what happened,” she said. “It’s not the answer to healing.”
For many survivors, however, the process itself has been a form of healing, especially in the shared experience of confronting the Church and witnessing changes in one another over time.
She also underscored the deep betrayal felt by survivors who placed their faith in religious leaders. “Because they wanted to love God, and suddenly, someone who’s supposed to symbolize the love of God is doing something perverted and perverse, and it really messed up a lot of lives,” she said.
As the case nears its resolution, DuPré hopes survivors can begin focusing on other parts of their lives. “I have other things that are going on in my life that I’ve had to kind of put on hold,” she said. “I hope that they will just get back and be satisfied and realize how important the recognition is and the accomplishment is, and their bravery for coming forward.”
A plaintiff’s attorney involved in the case described the survivor vote as a major turning point that could inspire others nationwide to come forward, even in the face of complex bankruptcy proceedings and institutional resistance.
This case mirrors other large-scale Catholic abuse settlements across the country, where bankruptcy has been used as a legal strategy by dioceses to manage mass claims. It also draws comparisons to pending litigation in Washington State, where courts are weighing whether the Church must report abuse when clergy learn of it outside the confessional.
Are You A Clergy Abuse Survivor And Don’t Know Where To Turn For Legal Help?
If you or someone you love was abused by a Catholic clergy member or in a Catholic-affiliated program, you are not alone. Survivors across the country are stepping forward and reclaiming their power. Learn more about your legal rights and options in our Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Guide.
You can also fill out the short, confidential form below to request a free legal review of your case and see if you may qualify for compensation.
