Calls made to remove name of accused priest from Glen Cove building

News 12
February 05, 2020

http://www.news12.com/story/41664330/calls-made-to-remove-name-of-accused-priest-from-glen-cove-building

There are calls for the name of a priest accused of sexually abusing a child to be removed from a building in Glen Cove.

Attorney Mitchell Garabedian says his client was sexually abused by Father Eligio Della Rosa in 1964 at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church.

"He asked my client to meet him in the pews of the church and my client did," says Garabedian. "And that's where my client was sexually abused by Father Della Rosa, by Father Della Rosa instructing my client to perform oral sex on Father Della Rosa at the age of 14."

Garabedian, who has represented other abuse victims, says his client wants Della Rosa's name removed from a building at the Church of Saint Rocco in Glen Cove.

Garabedian and victim's advocate Robert Hoatson also want the Diocese of Rockville Centre to publicly release the names of clergy who have been credibly accused of abuse.

In a statement to News 12, a spokesman for the diocese says, "The diocese has released the names of all clergy, employees and volunteers that we are aware of having ever been accused of the sexual abuse of a minor (whether credible or not) to the proper law enforcement authorities."

Garabedian says his client also wants people to know that the diocese found his claim of sexual abuse credible and agreed to settle in 2019 for an amount in the low six-figures.

A spokesperson for the diocese says removing Della Rosa's name from the building is under active review.