Eight Catholic priests in the Diocese of Rochester, several of whom served in Finger Lakes parishes, are being accused of sexually abusing children by a group called Road to Recovery.
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian of Boston made the allegations in Rochester Wednesday.
The Law Offices of Mitchell Garabedian did the groundbreaking work in the Boston clergy sexual abuse cases that were the subject of the acclaimed movie “Spotlight.” It involved bringing to justice a number of priests and other sexual abusers, as well as their employers, including the Archdiocese of Boston.
One of those accused last week is the Rev. David Simon, who served at St. Stephen’s Church and was chaplain at DeSales High School in Geneva from 1971-75. He had previously been named as an accused abuser.
Garabedian said his law firm is representing a group of people who say they were sexually abused by the priests in the Rochester Diocese from 1950 to 1978. The alleged victims are now between the ages of 52 and 77.
Peter Saracino of Phelps, a Seneca Falls native, is an advocate for survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
He said the latest allegations create mixed emotions.
“I am always heartened when we survivors find the courage to tell our stories. It is a way of healing for many of us,’’ Saracino said.
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