Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Passport
  • Support WSKG
Donate
  • Donate
  • logo
  • logo
  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
  • Donate
  • More
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Passport
    • Support WSKG

WSKG - Local news and arts, broadcasting NPR radio and PBS TV.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...
  • Donate your vehicle to support WSKG

WSKG (https://wskg.org/news/victims-of-catholic-clergy-abuse-in-central-new-york-have-a-decision-to-make/)

  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
Listen Live WSKG
Listen Live WSKG Classical

Watch Live WSKG TV
Watch Live PBS Kids
Learn at Home
Covid-19 information

Clergy Abuse Victims In Syracuse Diocese Have A Decision To Make

By Gabe Altieri | June 15, 2018
More
  • More on Child Victims Act
  • Subscribe to Child Victims Act
https://wskg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ga0507sp.mp3

BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) – Some people abused as children by clergy in the Syracuse Roman Catholic Diocese must decide by June 18* whether to participate in the diocese’s compensation program, or wait to see if state lawmakers pass a bill that would extend the statute of limitations, so they could sue later.

The Diocese of Syracuse includes the Binghamton and Cortland areas.

That bill is the Child Victims Act. Besides extending the statute of limitations for people abused as children to sue, it would also open a one-year window, so that those previously barred through the statute of limitations to bring their case to court could do so.

“But that’s not the law and so we’re stuck with what we have,” said Attorney Mike Reck, who represents victims in the Syracuse Diocese. 

Under current law, people abused as children must sue by the time they’re 23. That means one of the only options many victims in Syracuse have is the compensation program, “which is a process that, while it’s not perfect, it does offer some accountability, some measure of justice, and it’s available now,” Reck said.

The Syracuse Diocese invited around 70 people to take part in the program. If they participate, an outside arbiter will look at their case. Then they can either accept the settlement offer or not.

Here’s the thing, once accepted, that person cannot sue the diocese in the future, even if the Child Victims Act passes and raises the statute of limitations.

What they could still do, is recount the details of the abuse. The diocese is not requiring people to sign non-disclosure agreements. 

“They can walk out of the room after that and say ‘I’m going to tell my story now’ because there is no confidentiality clause,” said Danielle Cummings, a spokeswoman for the diocese. “Or, if they’re inclined, they can just move on with their lives, so it’s in their hands, it’s entirely in their hands.”

What’s not in their hands is whether information on the diocese comes out, like exactly what it knew and when.

That’s the kind of information that could come out in court. Court also lends itself to higher payouts. 

“In one case in particular, I view the damage as somewhere in the area of $8 million to $10 million,” said Ronald Benjamin, an attorney with clients in the program. “And I don’t think you’re going to get much over $500,000 in the program.”

The deadline to participate in that program is next week.

As for the Child Victims Act, it’s once again passed the assembly but isn’t scheduled for a vote in the state senate before the end of the session in June. A Quinnipiac Poll earlier this year showed it had support from 90 percent of New Yorkers.

*This story has been updated to reflect an extension to the deadline.

Recent Posts

  • Mass Vaccination Site Opens In Johnson City, But Supplies Are Limited

    BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) — A mass vaccination site opened in Johnson City on Tuesday. The state-run operation is the only one of its kind in the Southern Tier.

  • Dr. Rachel Levine has previously won state Senate confirmation in Pennsylvania, including a unanimous vote in 2015 to endorse her as Pennsylvania's physician general.
    In Historic 1st, Biden Nominates Transgender Pennsylvanian As Assistant Health Secretary

    President-elect Joe Biden is nominating Pennsylvania health expert Dr. Rachel Levine to be assistant secretary for health in the department of Health and Human Services, in a move that could make Levine the first openly transgender federal official to win Senate confirmation. Levine is currently the secretary of health in Pennsylvania, where she leads the state's fight against COVID-19.

  • This screen grab from a December Zoom call shows New York Mets general manager Jared Porter. Porter sent graphic, uninvited text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 when he was working for the Chicago Cubs in their front office, ESPN reported Monday night.
    Mets Terminate General Manager Who Reportedly Sent Lewd Texts To Reporter

    The New York Mets have fired the team's new general manager Jared Porter over alleged sexual harassment of a female reporter. Porter sent explicit, unsolicited texts of himself repeatedly to the journalist in 2016, ESPN reported on Monday evening.

  • Checking In With Caregivers Can Make The Difference Between Pandemic Distancing And Isolation

    BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) — Social distancing has been in a common phrase since the beginning of the pandemic. Doing so can protect people and others around them from the spread of COVID-19.

  • Gov. Cuomo’s 2021 State Budget Address

    NEW YORK NOW - Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to unveil on Tuesday his plan for filling the largest budget deficit he’s encountered during his time in office, with potential tax hikes and cuts in spending on the table if the state doesn’t get help from Congress. The elephant in the room, according to budget analysts, will be what the state projects to receive in federal aid, and if the budget gap may narrow on its own in the coming months.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...

About WSKG

WSKG connects you to local and global news and the arts online, on the radio, and on TV. NPR and PBS affiliate.

Contact Us

email: WSKGcomment@wskg.org

phone: 607.729.0100

address: 601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY 13850

DONATE

Pay an underwriting invoice

  • WSKG
  • Arts
  • Education
  • Science
  • News
  • Radio
  • Schedule
  • TV
  • About
  • WSKG Staff
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Public Reports & Policies
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
  • Protect My Public Media
FCC PUBLIC FILES
WSKG-FM
WSQX-FM
WSQG-FM
WSQE
WSQA
WSQC-FM
WSQN
WSKG-TV
WSKA
Disabled and need assistance with the online FCC public file?
Contact Gregory Keeler
WSKG
601 Gates Road
Vestal, New York 13850
607-729-0100
gkeeler@wskg.org

Stay Connected

Like Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on YouTubeFollow Us on InstagramSubscribe via RSS

© Copyright 2021, WSKG

Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Back to top ↑

Change Location
To find awesome listings near you!