L.I. Bishop Gives Prosecutors Files

By Daniel J. Wakin
New York Times
March 29, 2002

Bishop William Murphy, leader of Long Island's 1.5 million Roman Catholics, said yesterday that he had given prosecutors the names of priests in his diocese's personnel files who had been accused of sexually molesting minors.

In a statement posted on the Web site of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, the bishop did not say what prompted him to pass on the information, or why he was shifting a policy announced earlier this month, when he said he would report all new cases but keep old cases confidential, deciding whether to give them to prosecutors case by case.

Yesterday, he said the diocese would release to prosecutors the names of priests along with details about the "nature and timing of the allegations."

He did not say how far back the cases went.

"I am confident this information is more than sufficient to allow the district attorneys to proceed with their responsibilities under the law," he said. He could not be reached to elaborate.

The bishop joins a growing list of Roman Catholic prelates in dioceses across the country who have turned over such information to the authorities or made public the names of priests accused in the past. The moves were prompted by concern over a widening scandal involving the sexual abuse of minors by priests that began with disclosures in January about a serial pedophile in Boston.

The Nassau County district attorney, Denis E. Dillon, has called on the diocese to turn over the records. Yesterday, he said, "The diocese has been cooperative."

Newsday reported yesterday that the Suffolk County district attorney, Thomas J. Spota, had subpoenaed records going back 25 years.