This archive report was first published on 14 November 2019.
November 14, 2019, marked a significant day in the ongoing clergy abuse scandal, as a lawyer revealed that Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, the longtime leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, sexually abused an 11-year-old altar boy during his tenure as a young priest in Jersey City in the 1970s.
According to a letter obtained by The Associated Press, lawyer Mitchell Garabedian informed Catholic officials in New Jersey that he was preparing a lawsuit on behalf of a client who says he was molested by Bishop DiMarzio more than 40 years ago.
Mark Matzek, 56, claims that as an altar boy at St. Nicholas Church and student at St. Nicholas School, he was repeatedly abused by Bishop DiMarzio and a second priest, according to the letter.
Bishop DiMarzio denied the accusation in a statement to The A.P., saying, “In my nearly 50-year ministry as a priest, I have never engaged in unlawful or inappropriate behavior and I categorically deny this allegation. I am confident I will be fully vindicated.”
He added, “There will be a legal process now and I will vigorously defend myself against this false allegation.”
The allegations have raised questions about Bishop DiMarzio's suitability to investigate the Buffalo, N.Y., diocese, where Bishop James Malone has come under criticism for how he has handled a mushrooming clergy abuse scandal.
