Father Thomas Devery
Archdiocese of New York
Assignment History:
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church (Shrub Oak, NY)
- Our Lady of Pity R.C. Church (Bulls Head, NY)
- 2014-2021: Our Lady Star of the Sea, Pastor (Staten Island, NY)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Thomas Devery:
Thomas Devery was ordained in 1977.
In August 2019, a lawsuit was filed in the state Supreme Court in Manhattan against the Archdiocese of New York, alleging that Fr. Thomas Devery sexually abused an altar boy in 1984 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Shrub Oak, Westchester County. According to the lawsuit, the boy was 15-years-old when Devery engaged in unpermitted sexual contact with him.
According to Bishop Accountability, Devery said in the letter that about four years ago, one person filed an unsuccessful claim against him through the Archdiocese’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) “alleging that nearly four decades ago I had committed an act of abuse with a minor”.
Devery is the former director of priest personnel for the Archdiocese and was himself likely involved in the investigation of allegations of priest sexual abuse during that time.
In March 2021, the advocacy group, SNAP, called upon the Archbishop of New York to remove Devery from ministry and parochial vicar at Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Given the Archdiocese of New York’s unwillingness to abide by its promises of “zero tolerance,” it is not surprising the pleas fell upon deaf ears. Devery remained in active ministry until he voluntarily stepped down in late July 2021, according to a letter read to his parishioners during mass.
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