Brooklyn Diocese in Deal with DAS

New York Post/April 11, 2002
By Douglas Montero and Dan Mangan

Another huge domino in the Catholic Church fell yesterday as Brooklyn Bishop Thomas Daily agreed to give prosecutors the names of some 35 priests accused of molesting kids since 1982.

"I am doing so as it represents the best way to cooperate with the spirit of the law," Daily said. "As in the past, we will cooperate with them in any investigations they may wish to pursue. Our primary concern is for the welfare and safety of children."

Daily, in another 180-degree switch, also will report future child sex-abuse claims against priests to prosecutors without delay or review, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes.

Tomorrow, Brooklyn and Queens prosecutors - whose boroughs comprise the Diocese of Brooklyn - will start getting information about priests accused of abusing kids. About 35 priests have been identified by church officials, sources said.

"I have said repeatedly that I was confident that the Brooklyn Diocese would provide me with information to allow me to proceed with my responsibilities," said Hynes.

Queens DA Richard Brown called Daily's move "a positive and productive step in a spirit of continuing cooperation which will assist me in carrying out my responsibilities in protecting the safety of all citizens, especially our children."

Daily just last month had said he would not turn over future allegations to civil authorities - in contrast with the Archdiocese of New York's new policy.

But Daily has agreed to turn over future charges without first putting them through a church review.

He also had been unmoved last week when the New York Archdiocese said it had told prosecutors about three dozen priests accused of molesting children since the early 1960s, a moved mirrored earlier by Long Island's diocese.

But meetings between Daily's lieutenants and representatives from the DAs this week led to his about-face.

Daily's move comes in the wake of a massive scandal about child-molesting priests.