Bankruptcy court judge allows sexual abuse claims against Rochester Catholic Diocese to move forward

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — A bankruptcy court judge has allowed plaintiffs to move forward with sexual abuse claims against the Catholic Diocese of Rochester.

The 475 claims against parishes will continue because a judge shot down the diocese’s offer to settle claims and stop litigation.

These are all cases brought to the surface because of the Child Victim’s Act’s look-back window that was opened in 2019.

News10NBC reached out to the diocese for comment. It said, "Today the Bankruptcy Court issued a decision allowing plaintiffs to move forward with lawsuits against parishes and other Catholic organizations within the Diocese. The Diocese is studying the Court’s ruling, and intends to continue to work toward a plan of reorganization that will provide all survivors with fair compensation for the injuries they suffered as children."

Monday the New York State Assembly passed a bill that would create a one-year look-back window for people who were adults when they were allegedly sexually abused to sue their abusers civilly called the Adult Survivors Act.

Those claims were previously time-barred by the current statute of limitations.

The bill has already passed the State Senate and has been sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk.