Victims' advocates are calling on the Diocese of Rockville Centre to release the names of clergy members accused of sexual abuse.
Janet Klinger says she was sexually abused by a priest in 1968. On Thursday, she and other members of SNAP, or Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, urged parishioners to stop donating money to churches within the diocese until Bishop John Barres releases the names of priests credibly accused of sexually abusing minors. The Archdiocese of New York released a list of 120 accused clergy members last week.
SNAP on Thursday released its own list of six priests who it says have been credibly accused. The group says the accused remain "under the radar." Four of them are Jesuits linked to Manhasset. Father John Garvey served as a Jesuit priest in Manhassett. Attorney Mitch Garabedian says Garvey sexually abused one of his clients there in 1979.
Garvey and the other three Jesuit priests were among 50 accused and named in a list released by Jesuits USA Northeast in January. News 12 could not independently verify information on the other two priests named by SNAP.
The Diocese of Rockville Centre has said that all of the priests on its list are either out of ministry or dead. But Garabedian says that doesn't matter and the names should be released anyway.
News 12 did not hear back from the Diocese of Rockville Centre for comment.