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Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre

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The Diocese of Rockville Centre (Latin: Dioecesis Petropolitana in Insula Longa) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in the Long Island region of New York State in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of New York.

Diocese of Rockville Centre

Dioecesis Petropolitana in Insula Longa
St. Agnes Cathedral
Coat of arms
Location
Country United States
TerritoryLong Island, New York
Ecclesiastical provinceNew York
Statistics
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2014)
2,851,977
1,531,445[1] (53.7%)
Parishes134
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedApril 6, 1957
CathedralSt. Agnes Cathedral
Patron saintSaint Agnes[2]
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopJohn Barres
Metropolitan ArchbishopTimothy M. Dolan
Auxiliary Bishops
Bishops emeritus
Map
Website
drvc.org

The current bishop is John Barres. The cathedral is St. Agnes Cathedral, in Rockville Centre, New York. Founded in 1957, this diocese was created from territory that formerly belonged to the Diocese of Brooklyn. It includes all of Nassau and Suffolk counties except for Fishers Island, which is part of the Diocese of Norwich. As of 2005, it the sixth-largest Catholic diocese in the United States, currently serving approximately 1.5 million people in 134 parishes.[3]

History

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Early history

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During the Dutch and British rule of the Province of New York in the 17th and 18th centuries, Catholics were banned from the colony.[4] Richard Coote, the first colonial governor, passed a law at the end of the 17th century that mandated a life sentence to any Catholic priest. The penalty for harboring a Catholic was a £250 fine plus three days in the pillory. In 1763, Catholic Bishop Richard Challoner of London stated that:

“...in New York, one may find a Catholic here and there, but they have no opportunity of practicing their religion as no priest visits them, and … there is not much likelihood that Catholic priests will be permitted to enter these provinces."[4]

After the approval of the New York Constitution in 1777, freedom of worship for Catholics was guaranteed.

1784 to 1957

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In 1784, Pope Pius VI erected the Apostolic Prefecture of United States of America, including all of the new United States. In 1789, the same pope raised this prefecture to the Diocese of Baltimore.[5] Pope Pius VII in 1808 erected the Diocese of New York, taking all of New York State from the Diocese of Baltimore.[6]

Catholic priests started appearing in Long Island in the mid-19th century, founding missions and parishes. The first Catholic Church in Nassau County was St. Brigid in Westbury, founded in 1840.[7] The first resident priest in Suffolk County arrived in Sag Harbor in 1852 to provide support to Irish Catholic families working on the railroads.[8]

The Diocese of Brooklyn was erected by Pope Pius IX in 1853 from territory formerly a part of the Archdiocese of New York.[9] All of Long Island would remain part of the new diocese for the next 104 years.

1957 to 2000

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Pope Pius XII erected the Diocese of Rockville Centre on April 6, 1957, taking Nassau and Suffolk counties from the Diocese of Brooklyn.[10] The pope named Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg of the Diocese of Ogdensburg as the first bishop of the new diocese.[11] St. Agnes Cathedral was designated as the diocesan cathedral. Kellenberg founded the diocese's Catholic Charities office in 1957.[12] He resigned in 1976.

Kellenberg was followed by Auxiliary Bishop John McGann, named by Pope Paul VI in 1976.[13] In 1984, the diocese closed its minor seminary, St. Pius X Preparatory, in Uniondale. Pope John Paul II in 1999 appointed Bishop James T. McHugh from the Diocese of Camden as a coadjutor bishop in Rockville Centre to assist McGann.[14]

2000 to 2010

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After McGann retired in January 2000, McHugh automatically succeeded him as bishop. However, only 11 months later, McHugh died in December 2000. John Paul II then appointed Auxiliary Bishop William Murphy of the Archdiocese of Boston as the next bishop of Rockville Centre.[15]

Soon after Murphy's installation as bishop in 2001, he decided that his private quarters in the cathedral rectory were inadequate. He complained that they lacked privacy and sufficient space to entertain visiting clergy. Murphy decided to use the top floor of an old convent building at the cathedral for a new apartment. The diocese had been planning to create rooms for nuns on that floor, but Murphy asked them to accept different accommodations. The Murphy apartment ended up costing the diocese $800,000.[16] As news of the project cost became public, Murphy invited a Newsday reporter and photographer to tour the apartment. They reported that it included a large suite with a new fireplace with an oak mantel, a temperature-controlled wine storage cabinet, and a marble floored bathroom.[16]

In 2003, 52 priests requested a meeting with Murphy. In a letter, the priests spoke of anger and dissatisfaction within the diocese and "a certain lack of confidence in your pastoral leadership." They also complained about Murphy's management style, the cost of his new apartment, the sexual abuse scandal in Boston[17] and his ban against Long Island Voice of the Faithful.[18]

2010 to present

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In 2011, Murphy announced the closing of six elementary schools in the diocese:

In 2012, the Archdiocese of New York and the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre merged all their seminary programs.

Murphy retired in 2016. The current bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre is John Barres, the former bishop of the Diocese of Allentown. He was appointed by Pope Francis in January 2017.[20]

In October 2017, Barres announced the creation of the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) for survivors of acts of child sexual abuse committed by clergy in the diocese. That same year, he created a video series on Telecare, the diocesan television network. Targeted to commuters, the series was entitled "The Catholic Spirituality of Commuter Delays."[21]

In June 2020, the diocese, which suffered significant financial damage from the COVID-19 pandemic, filed court documents stating its intention to file for bankruptcy if there was no pause in nearly 100 pending sex abuse lawsuits.[22][23][24][25] In October 2020, Rockville Centre became the fourth diocese in New York State to declare bankruptcy.[26] An April 2021 bankruptcy filing documents allegations against some former priests who had not previously been publicly accused of abuse. In total, the diocese listed 101 accused clergy members, though a committee of unsecured creditors had published a list of 46 more names.[27]

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In May 2000, Reverend Andrew Millar, a retired priest residing at the rectory of St. Peter and Paul Roman Church in Manorville, was arrested on sodomy charges. A parent had caught Millar sodomizing his 15 year old developmentally disabled son in a public bathroom at Tobay Beach in Nassau County.[28] The diocese had retired Millar in 1999 after receiving an abuse complaint dating back to 1991. After pleading guilty, Millar was sentenced in November 2000 to one to three years in prison.[29]

Reverend Michael Hands of St. Raphael's Parish in East Meadow was arrested in May 2001 on charges of sexual abuse and sodomy. He was accused of sexually abusing a 13 year old boy during 2000 and 2001.[30] Hands in January 2003 testified before a grand jury in Suffolk County as part of a plea agreement. He accused Monsignor Charles Ribaudo of sexually abusing him as a teenager, reporting it to the diocese in 2001. Bishop Murphy removed Ribaudo from ministry at that time. However, a few months later another diocesan official allegedly asked Hands to keep his accusations secret as the diocese wanted to reinstate Ribaudo.[31] In March 2003, after pleading guilty to abusing the boy, Hands was sentenced to two years in prison and five years probation.[32]

In November 2006, Reverend Thomas G. Saloy, an administrator at the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Roosevelt was arrested on charges of possessing child pornography. The Federal Bureau of Investigation came across Saloy while investigating an unrelated case in Wisconsin. Saloy then contacted an investigator on America Online, thinking it was a teenage boy.[33] In May 2008, after undergoing treatment in Maryland, Saloy pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.[34]

Reverend Gerald Twomey was arrested in May 2008 on charges of forcible touching and third-degree sexual abuse. He was accused of forcibly touching a man in a private home in 2006.[35] Twomey had been suspended from ministry since June 2007, when he was accused of sexually abusing a ten year old during 1994 and 1995.[36]

By August 2019, the diocese had named 68 clergy who were "credibly accused" of acts of sex abuse.[37] That same month, Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone of the Diocese of Charleston was named in a sex abuse lawsuit in New York. A man accused Guglielmone, then a pastor at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Amityville, of sexually abusing him when he was eight in 1978.[38] Guglielmone denied the allegations. The diocese investigated the allegation and found it not credible.[39] In December 2020, the Vatican concluded its investigation and determined Guglielmone to be innocent of the charges.[40]

In February 2019, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Child Victims Act. The law created a one-year lookback period in which victims of child sex abuse could file civil lawsuits against abusers that were previously barred by the statute of limitations.[41] Also in February 2019, two women accused Bishop McGann of sexually abusing them as children in the 1960s and 1970s.[42]

In May 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo extended the 2019 New York Child Victims Act's statute of limitation deadline to file sex abuse lawsuits from August 2020, to January 2021.[43] In May 2020, a Nassau County Supreme Court justice allowed pending lawsuits against the diocese to proceed. The justice rejected legal claims from the diocest that the Child Victims Act violated due process.[44][45]

In October 2020, the Diocese of Rockville Centre filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy while facing more than 200 sex abuse cases.[46] In April 2024, a $200 million settlement offer was rejected by 86% of sex abuse victims who were reported to have been sexually abused by Diocese of Rockville Centre clergy.[47] The following September, the Diocese agreed to pay $323M to 530 victims, with $85.3m of that amount being covered by insurance. The Diocese gathered funds for the payment by having all its parishes declare bankruptcy so that its insurers can repurchase policies from them.[48]

Bishops

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Bishops of Rockville Centre

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  1. Walter P. Kellenberg (1957–1976)
  2. John R. McGann (1976–2000)
  3. James T. McHugh (2000; coadjutor bishop 1998–2000)
  4. William F. Murphy (2001–2017)
  5. John O. Barres (2017–present)

Current auxiliary bishops

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Former auxiliary bishops

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Other diocesan priests who became bishops

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Coat of Arms

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Coat of arms of Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre
 
Notes
Arms was designed and adopted when the diocese was erected
Adopted
1957
Escutcheon
The arms are divided into four parts, two blue and two gold, with a wavy line border. Three parts include a scallop shell and the fourth part includes a lamb's head. The center of the arms contains a black roundel with three stones.
Symbolism
The blue and gold quarters appear on the coat of arms of King William III. The scallop shells refer to the Native American name for Long Island, "Seawanhacky" (Island of Shells). The scallop shells also signify the flowing of water in the sacrament of baptism.

The wavy lines represent the sea water around the diocese. The lamb's head symbolizes innocence and represents St. Agnes, patron saint of Rockville Centre.

The stones derive from the coat of arms of Pope Pius XII. The black roundel represents the black marshes of "Breuck-Landt'" (Broken Land), the seventeenth century name of Brooklyn.

Media

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Catholic Faith Network (CFn) formerly known as "Telecare" was founded in 1969 by Monsignor Thomas Hartman . CFn's programming includes live religious services, talk shows, devotional programs, educational programming, entertainment, and children's programs. It also presents coverage of special events at the Vatican and of papal journeys. It serves subscribers in three states.

In 2012, the diocesan weekly newspaper, Long Island Catholic, switched to a subscription-based monthly magazine.[49]

Education

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See also: List of schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre

Former seminary

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Seminary of the Immaculate Conception – Lloyd Harbor (1926 to 2012) The diocese now uses St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers as its major seminary.

High schools

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Diocesan

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Operated by religious orders and independent

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Closed schools

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Catholic Charities

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Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockville Centre began operating in 1957. In 1974, it opened a residence for the developmentally disabled in Valley Stream. As of 2019, Catholic Charities operates 13 residences. Catholic Charities opened a shelter for single mothers in 1968 and in 2009 expanded it to include transitional housing. Catholic Charities is one of the largest providers of affordable senior housing on Long Island, operating over 1,300 units.[50]

Catholic Health

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Catholic Health System, formerly Catholic Health Services of Long Island, was founded in 1997 and operates under the sponsorship of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.[51] CHS operates six hospitals:

CHS is the primary clinical affiliate and major teaching site of New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury[54] With 17,000 employees, CHS in 2017 was the third-largest employer on Long Island.[55] In 2021, CHSLI's name was changed to Catholic Health.[56]

Cemeteries

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In 2016 the diocese created a new corporation, Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island, to assume ownership of its cemeteries. It administers four major cemeteries:[57]

In addition, the diocese contains 21 parish cemeteries. Six of them are managed by Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island and the remainder by the individual parishes.[57]

St. Charles / Resurrection Cemeteries, despite being located within the diocese in East Farmingdale, is administered by the Diocese of Brooklyn.

References

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  1. ^ Who We Are Archived 2017-03-18 at the Wayback Machine. Diocese of Rockville Centre. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  2. ^ "The Diocese of Rockville Centre Celebrates Patron, St. Agnes | the Diocese of Rockville Centre".
  3. ^ "1010 WINS - On-Air, Online, on Demand - LI Diocese Loses Sex Abuse Suit". Archived from the original on 2007-08-05. Retrieved 2005-12-14.
  4. ^ a b "Parish History (New)". Church of St. Patrick - Huntington, NY. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  5. ^ "Catholic Encyclopedia: Archdiocese of New York". New Advent. Archived from the original on 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2006-01-21.
  6. ^ "New York (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  7. ^ Cipollone, Alex. "A Short History of our Parish". Saint Brigid's Catholic Church. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  8. ^ "The Immigrant Church: St. Patrick's" (PDF). Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  9. ^ "Brooklyn (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  10. ^ "Rockville Centre (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  11. ^ "Church Hierarchy". Retrieved Jul 1, 2020.
  12. ^ ""Celebrating 60 Years" Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockville Centre" (PDF). The Mission. September 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2020. Retrieved Jul 1, 2020.
  13. ^ "Bishop John Raymond McGann [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  14. ^ "Bishop James Thomas McHugh [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  15. ^ "Bishop William Francis Murphy [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  16. ^ a b Ryan, Dick (October 25, 2002). "One bishop's high cost of living". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
  17. ^ New York Times: "Priests Say Murphy Takes a First Step' January 25, 2004
  18. ^ Rather, John (2006-03-19). "Can a Mediator Heal the Rift in the Diocese?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  19. ^ "6 Catholic schools on Long Island to close". The Wall Street Journal. Associated Press. 6 December 2011.
  20. ^ "Bishop John Oliver Barres [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  21. ^ "The Most Reverend John Oliver Barres, S.T.D., J.C.L., D.D.", The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre". January 28, 2020. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  22. ^ "Diocese of Rockville Centre threatens bankruptcy if judge doesn't pause child sex abuse suits". longisland.news12.com. June 15, 2020.
  23. ^ "Rockville Centre diocese faces bankruptcy amid abuse lawsuits". Catholic News Agency. June 15, 2020.
  24. ^ Nossa, Jill (June 18, 2020). "Diocese of Rockville Centre faces bankruptcy amid abuse lawsuits". Herald Community Newspapers.
  25. ^ Boniello, Kathianne (13 June 2020). "Diocese of Rockville Centre threatens bankruptcy in face of child sex-abuse lawsuits".
  26. ^ "Rockville Centre is fourth NY diocese to file for bankruptcy". Catholic World Report. October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  27. ^ Parpan, Grant (28 April 2021). "New Diocese list of abusers includes 16 former local priests". The Suffolk Times.
  28. ^ Corral, Oscar (May 17, 2000). "Ex-Priest Charged with Abuse". Newsday. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  29. ^ Gearty, Robert (November 16, 2000). "Jail for Sex Rap Rev". Newsday. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  30. ^ Baker, Al (2001-05-08). "Priest on Long Island Is Charged With Sexual Abuse of Teenage Boy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  31. ^ LeSure, Elizabeth (January 2, 2003). "N.Y. Priest: Church Protected Monsignor". Midland Daily News. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  32. ^ Gootman, Elissa (2003-03-05). "L.I. Priest Apologizes to Victim Before Receiving a 2-Year Term". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  33. ^ "Priest charged with child porn". Lewiston Sun Journal. 2006-11-18. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  34. ^ "PRIEST ADMITS TO KIDDIE PORN". The New York Post. 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  35. ^ "Fr. Gerald S. Twomey". BishopAccountability.org. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  36. ^ Jones, Bart (June 8, 2007). "Catholic Priest Denies Abusing 10-Year-Old". Newsday. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  37. ^ "Database of Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse". app.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved Jul 1, 2020.
  38. ^ Smith, Glenn; Hobbs, Stephen; Moore, Thad (14 August 2019). "Bishop of Charleston Diocese accused of sexual abuse in new lawsuit from NY". Post and Courier. Retrieved Jul 1, 2020.
  39. ^ Smith, Glenn (14 August 2019). "Bishop of Charleston Diocese accused of sexual abuse in new lawsuit from NY". Post and Courier.
  40. ^ "Charleston Catholic Bishop cleared by Vatican over child sexual abuse claim". Catholic News Agency. December 8, 2020. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  41. ^ Joseph, Elizabeth (February 14, 2019). "'This is society's way of saying we are sorry,' New York Governor tells survivors of sex abuse before signing Child Victims Act into law". CNN.
  42. ^ "2 women accuse longtime Long Island Bishop John McGann of sex abuse". ABC7 New York. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  43. ^ Pozarycki, Robert (May 8, 2020). "Time limit extended for sex abuse victims to file claims under New York Child Victims Act". amNewYork. Retrieved Jul 1, 2020.
  44. ^ Tarinelli, Ryan (May 13, 2020). "Child Victims Act Does Not Violate Diocese's Due Process Right, Nassau Justice Rules". New York Law Journal. Retrieved Jul 1, 2020.
  45. ^ Harris, Cayla (May 13, 2020). "Judge throws out constitutional challenge to Child Victims Act". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved Jul 1, 2020.
  46. ^ Biswas, Soma; Scurria, Andrew (October 1, 2020). "Long Island Diocese Files for Bankruptcy After Surge of Sex-Abuse Lawsuits". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  47. ^ Jones, Bart (April 18, 2024). "Diocese of Rockville Centre's $200M settlement rejected by 86% of childhood clergy sexual abuse survivors". Newsday. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  48. ^ Guardian staff (26 September 2024). "US Catholic diocese agrees to pay $323m to child sexual abuse survivors". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  49. ^ "Rockville Centre diocese converts newspaper to monthly magazine". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved Jul 1, 2020.
  50. ^ "About Us". www.catholiccharities.cc. Retrieved Jul 1, 2020.
  51. ^ https://www.chsli.org/about-chs Catholic Health Services of Long Island: About CHS
  52. ^ "List of Geographical Misnomers -- Newsday.com". 2006-05-28. Archived from the original on May 28, 2006. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  53. ^ https://www.chsli.org/hospitals Catholic Health Services of Long Island: Hospitals
  54. ^ "Clinical Education Institutions | College of Osteopathic Medicine | New York Tech". www.nyit.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  55. ^ "Long Island's largest employers". Newsday.
  56. ^ "Catholic Health. Experts in medicine, leaders in care. | CHSLI". www.chsli.org. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  57. ^ a b "Map of Long Island Catholic Cemeteries" (PDF). Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
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40°39′48″N 73°38′13″W / 40.66333°N 73.63694°W / 40.66333; -73.63694

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