Hoylman: Attorney General Underwood Has Taken Extraordinary Steps to Protect Child Abuse Victims in New York, the State Senate Must Follow Suit

NEW YORK- Senator Brad Hoylman (D/WF-Manhattan) released the following statement in response the Attorney General’s announcement that a hotline will be created in New York to investigate the sexual abuse of children in the New York Diocese of the Catholic Church.

Senator Hoylman said: “Thank you New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood for creating a mechanism to expose the insidious crimes of child abuse and clergy cover-ups that have allowed this to continue unabated for far too long, as most recently demonstrated by the Pennsylvania grand jury.  This powerful tool of accountability will hopefully foster cooperation between the DA’s office and the Church to protect victims and prevent future instances of abuse.  When we return to Albany, the State Senate must pass the Child Victims Act to ensure justice for victims and hold those who perpetrate these crimes--from large institutions to family members--fully accountable. There is no alternative.”

If you are a victim or you know something, please call our office at 1-800-771-7755 or file a complaint online at http://ag.ny.gov/ClergyAbuse . An investigator will review all allegations.

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