The Diocese of Ogdensburg has announced an Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) to compensate people with claims that they were sexually abused as a child by a member of the clergy in the Diocese of Ogdensburg.
Individuals who have made abuse abuse claims with the Diocese of Ogdensburg prior to March 1, 2018, can participate in this voluntary program. The deadline for victims to submit claims is June 1, 2018. You should hire an experienced attorney before submitting your claim.
In certain cases, the claims process may involve gathering church sacrament records, school records, witness statements, counseling/therapy records, or photographs to support your claim. For that reason, it is critical you do not wait until the deadline to submit your claim. It is also essential that you hire an attorney who has previously handled cases involving the IRCP programs in New York State.
The IRCP is intended to compensate victims of child sexual abuse by clergy of the Diocese of Ogdensburg The program was publicly announced by the Bishop LaValley of the Diocese of Ogdensburg on March 1, 2018. This announcement follows the lead of Archdiocese of New York, Diocese of Brooklyn, and Diocese of Rockville Centre who employed similar programs. Since that time, dozens of victims across New York State dating back to the 1950’s have submitted claims. It has not yet been determined how the Diocese of Ogdensburg will treat claimants who did not previously report their abuse. The Archdiocese of New York, Diocese of Brooklyn, and Diocese of Rockville Centre have in the past agreed to compensate persons who did not previously report the abuse — and victim advocates are hopeful that the Diocese of Ogdensburg will do the same.
The Diocese of Ogdensburg’s geographical area spans eight counties in New York – Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties — plus the northern portion of Hamilton and Herkimer counties. The Diocese includes 119 parishes, and also include churches, schools, convents, seminaries, hospitals, colleges, and other ministries. The Catholic population of the Diocese of Ogdensburg is estimated to be nearly 143,000.
Sexual abuse attorney Adam Horowitz has many years of experience handling claims on behalf of victims of clergy sexual abuse throughout New York. If you or someone you know has been a victim of a sexual abuse by any priest or clergymen affiliated with the Diocese of Ogdensburg, please e-mail attorney Adam Horowitz at [email protected] or call our law firm at (954) 641-2100 to discuss your claim against the Diocese of Ogdensburg and learn if you are eligible for monetary compensation. Attorney Adam Horowitz offers confidential, free evaluations of your sexual abuse claim involving priests and clergy of the Diocese of Ogdensburg.