​Despite receiving additional reports of sexual abuse of minors, two girls and one boy, at Our Lady of Refuge Parish in the Bronx, Cardinal Timothy Dolan has remained silent about the overall crisis of sexual abuse at Our Lady of Refuge Parish regarding two high-ranking members of the New York Archdiocesan clergy, especially recent allegations against the late Msgr. Charles G. Mc Donagh, who served as secretary to two Archdiocese of New York Archbishops, Cardinal Terence Cooke and Cardinal John O’Connor, for approximately six years
What
A press conference to announce that Cardinal Timothy Dolan has been silent about allegations of sexual abuse of at least one minor boy and two minor girls at Our Lady of Refuge Parish in the Bronx, New York, by two high-ranking priests of the Archdiocese of New York; Bishop John Jenik, whom he removed from ministry recently, and the recent allegations against the late Msgr. Charles G. Mc Donagh. All three victims are represented by Attorney Mitchell Garabedian of Boston, MA.
When
Friday, January 11, 2019 at 11:30 AM
Where
On the public sidewalk outside Our Lady of Refuge Parish, 290 East 196th Street, Bronx, New York 10458
Who
Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Co-founder and President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families; and, Michael J. Meenan, a clergy sexual abuse victim/survivor of Bishop John Jenik at Our Lady of Refuge Parish who was found credible by the Archdiocese of New York.
Why
Cardinal Timothy Dolan has been confronted with additional allegations of sexual abuse from Our Lady of Refuge Parish in the Bronx, New York, concerning the late Msgr. Charles G. Mc Donagh. He removed Bishop John Jenik from priestly ministry several weeks ago after allegations of sexual abuse against a minor boy at Our Lady of Refuge Parish were found credible. On or before January 9, 2019, Cardinal Dolan learned about the sexual abuse of two minor girls against the late Msgr. Charles G. Mc Donagh when he was assigned to Our Lady of Refuge Parish. Cardinal Dolan has yet to issue an adequate statement and apology to the victims which would validate their claims and allow them to heal, and demonstrators will urge Cardinal Dolan to do so.
Contacts
Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Road to Recovery, Inc. – 862-368-2800 – [email protected]
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – 617-523-6250 (office) – 617-388-5252 (cell)
[email protected]
(portrayed in the Academy Award-winning Best Picture, “Spotlight”)

Road to Recovery, Inc. – P.O. Box 279, Livingston, New Jersey 07039 - 862-368-2800
A deceased former high-ranking priest of the Archdiocese of New York, Msgr. Charles G. Mc Donagh, who served as secretary to two Cardinals, Terence Cooke and John O’Connor, and who has never been publicly named before, has been accused by two biological sisters from a Catholic family of childhood sexual abuse when Msgr. Charles G. Mc Donagh served as a priest at Our Lady of Refuge Parish in the Bronx, New York, from approximately 1972-1977
MEDIA RELEASE – JANUARY 8, 2019
Msgr. Charles G. Mc Donagh, who died in 1999, has been accused of sexually abusing two (2) minor girls (biological sisters) when he was assigned to Our Lady of Refuge Parish in the Bronx, New York.
[Bishop John Jenik of the New York Archdiocese was recently removed from priestly ministry based on a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor boy at Our Lady of Refuge Parish in the Bronx, New York]
WHAT
A press conference announcing that Msgr. Charles G. Mc Donagh, former secretary to Cardinal Terence Cooke and Cardinal John O’Connor from approximately 1978 -1984, has been accused of sexual abuse of minor girls when he was assigned to Our Lady of Refuge Parish from approximately 1972-1977.
WHEN
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 11:30 am
WHERE
On the public sidewalk in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fifth Avenue between East 50th and East 51st Streets, Manhattan, New York City
WHO
Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Co-founder and President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity based in New Jersey that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families; and Michael J. Meenan, who was recently found credible regarding childhood sexual abuse allegations against Bishop John Jenik when Fr. John Jenik was assigned to Our Lady of Refuge Parish in the Bronx, New York
WHY
Courageous sexual abuse victim/survivors of clergy, including high-ranking clergymen from the Archdiocese of New York, continue to come forward to report that they were sexually abused as children in parishes, schools, and institutions in the New York Archdiocese. Two biological sisters from a Catholic family from Our Lady of Refuge Parish in the Bronx have alleged that Msgr. Charles G. Mc Donagh, who served for several years as secretary to Cardinals Cooke and O’Connor, sexually abused one of the girls from approximately 1972-1976 when she was approximately 14-17 years of age, and the other girl from approximately 1972-1977 when she was approximately 7-12 years of age. Msgr. Mc Donagh was assigned to Our Lady of Refuge Parish in the Bronx, New York, from approximately 1972-1977.
CONTACTS
Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Road to Recovery, Inc. – 862-368-2800 – [email protected]
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – 617-523-6250 (office) – 617-388-5252 (cell)
[email protected]
(portrayed in the 2016 Academy Award-winning Best Picture, “Spotlight”)