2 More Westchester Priests Suspended Over Sex Abuse Accusations

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Two more local priests have joined a Mamaroneck priest accused of long-ago sex abuse. They are Monsignor Edward Barry of Holy Rosary in Hawthorne and the Rev. William Luciano of Blessed Sacrament in New Rochelle.

Both have been accused of inappropriate conduct with a child decades ago, The Journal News reported.

Monsignor James White of Mamaroneck's St. Vito-Most Holy Trinity Church was placed on administrative leave. In a letter to parishioners last week, White denied the accusation, saying that he was shocked, disturbed and saddened by the news, the Journal News reported. He asked his parishioners to believe in his innocence.

The cases come after a one-year window was opened in New York by the Attorney General's Office in which any adult victim of child sex abuse can bring a lawsuit against the alleged abuser even if the statute of limitations has expired. The window opened in August 2019 as part of the Child Victims Act. Hundreds of cases are expected.

Most clergy sex abuse took place between the 1960’s and 1980’s, according to findings by Judge Barbara Jones, a former Federal Judge and prosecutor, who spent a year reviewing, evaluating and recommending improvements to the Archdiocese of New York as part of its response to the sexual abuse crisis.

SEE: Mamaroneck Priest Put On Leave Over Child Abuse Accusation