By Susana Enriquez
The Newsday [Rockville Centre]
May 19, 2007
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lidioc0520,0,3816199.story?coll=ny-top-headlines
The Diocese of Rockville Centre said Saturday that it would not appeal the $11.45-million award handed down by a jury to two victims who were sexually abused by a church employee.
"To appeal the case would just delay any healing, and that needs to take place right now," said Sean Dolan, a spokesman for the diocese. "We need closure and to try to heal as a diocese and as a parish."
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After eight days of deliberations, the jury arrived at a verdict on Friday in favor of the plaintiffs, a man and woman in their early 20s who were raped as teenagers beginning in 1999 by their youth minister, Matthew Maiello.
Maiello, 33, served more than 2 years in prison after he admitted having sex with them and two other teenagers.
Both plaintiffs, who are not being identified by Newsday because they are victims of sex crimes, sued the diocese, a priest and a youth minister because they did not do anything, even though they knew about the abuse.
"I said to the jury that this was a case about the church not accepting responsibility, and I think it's good that by this decision, they are accepting responsibility," said the attorney for the plaintiffs, Michael Dowd, of Manhattan. "I think this is a good step forward."
Dolan said he would inform the pastors of all the parishes about the verdict and the decision of the diocese not to appeal so they can pass along the information to their parishioners at Mass.
"We are just trying to be transparent and communicate with them as quickly as possible," he said.
Timothy Echausse, the director of the Long Island Chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said that an appeal would only have prolonged the pain of the victims, their families and the laity.
"I'm glad that they're not appealing," Echausse said. "It does show that they have some mercy and some compassion."
Still, Echausse said, the sex abuse issue for the diocese will not go away, as he knows of two teenage boys who have yet to come forward.
Dowd also said he has two cases pending against the diocese: one involving a young man and another involving a young woman. Both were abused as teenagers, he said.
Dolan said the diocese wants to focus on making the church environment a safe place for children.
The diocese, he said, will continue to require all employees to undergo background checks and training on the warning signs of sexual abuse and how to handle the situation.
It will also continue its school programs targeted at 6- and 7-year-olds that teach them what to do if they think something bad is being done to them.
But, Dolan said, everybody — including parents and caretakers — needs to be vigilant to protect children from abuse.
"It can't be just the diocese, the church or the pastor," he said. "It has to be everyone."
Contact: susana.enriquez@newsday.com
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