Msgr. Michael Dempsey – Diocese of Brooklyn

| Apr 19, 2020 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Monsignor Michael Dempsey 

Diocese of Brooklyn

Ordained: 1958

Removed: 2010

Died: 2017

Assigned as follows:

  • 1959-1960: St. Finbar’s (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1961: On Duty Outside the Diocese: Catholic University of America  (Washington, D.C.)
  • 1962-2008: Our Lady Queen of Martyrs (Forest Hills, NY) 
  • 1967-1969: Asst. Supt., Special Projects & Special Education (Brooklyn, NY) 
  • 1970-1971: Assistant Superintendent (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1972-1974: Dept. of Education, Treasurer (Brooklyn, NY); Diocesan Secretary for Education (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1975-1978: Secretary for Education (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1979-2008: Office of Pastoral Communications (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1983-1991: Trans Video Communication, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) 
  • 2009: Retired; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs (Forest Hills, NY); Office of Pastoral Communications (Brooklyn, NY) 
  • 2010: Retired; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs (Forest Hills, NY)

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Monsignor Michael Dempsey:

Msgr. Michael Dempsey was the executive director of pastoral communications at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church in Forest Hills, New York. According to media reports, in January 2010, he was placed on administrative leave pending the federal investigation of charges that he violated internet child pornography laws. 

The investigation was eventually dropped. Dempsey was never charged, and his parishioners were never told. The Bishop of Brooklyn sought the final and definitive resolution of the case from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, Italy. He was advised to restore Dempsey to the status of senior priest and grant him faculties to resume limited priestly ministry. 

Dempsey was believed to be living in Astoria, New York prior to his death. His status as a priest and whether he had access to children from 2011 until his death is unknown.

Dempsey died in 2017.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Brooklyn. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Brooklyn, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Brooklyn now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.