Prosecutor Skeptical of L.I. Bishop's Assurances

By Daniel J. Wakin
New York Times
April 12, 2002

The Suffolk County district attorney cast doubt yesterday on assurances by Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre that no priests serving on Long Island faced believable accusations of sexual abuse of minors.

The prosecutor, Thomas J. Spota, raised the possibility that the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy was covering up abuse accusations when he announced the formation of a grand jury investigating such cases.

"The district attorney's office continues to compile a broad range of information from credible and reliable sources that have knowledge of diocesan activities," he said in a statement. "From what I have seen thus far, I am not at all satisfied with the credibility of public assertions of the church that it is properly policing its clergy."

In a major policy statement on sexual abuse, Bishop Murphy said on March 14 that no "substantial and credible allegation of sexual misconduct involving a minor" had been made against anyone serving in the Rockville Centre Diocese.

At about the time of the bishop's statement, one priest accused of abuse went on leave and another retired, and in later weeks two others were suspended, Newsday has reported.

Bishop Murphy has given Mr. Spota and the Nassau County district attorney the files of priests previously accused of abuse, and has promised full cooperation.

Mr. Spota took note of recent news reports that his office was investigating whether the diocese "has covered up repeated cases of sexual abuse and reassigned accused priests to other parishes within or outside the diocese."

He said his office was investigating whether the diocese "purposefully reassigned accused priests to other parishes to the detriment of innocent children."

A diocesan spokeswoman, Joanne Novarro, did not return a phone call yesterday seeking comment.