(Rockville Centre, NY) – Through lawsuits filed involving the Diocese of Rockville Centre under the New York Child Victims Act (CVA), eight alleged perpetrators of child sexual abuse were identified publicly for the first time:
Fr. Lawrence Ballweg
Fr. Joseph P. Granata
Michael Palagonia (Teacher)
Anthony “Tony” Colangelo (Teacher)
Fr. Martin Curley, S.M.M.
Fr. Robert G. Kenny
Fr. James P. Sheridan
Fr. Fred Voltaggio
Out of the eight alleged perpetrators publicly identified for the first time, three may still be alive and have access to children:
Fr. Robert G. Kenny: Kenny is accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1965 – 1967 at Our Lady of Victory in Floral Park, New York. The abuse occurred when the victim was approximately 8 – 10 years old. Kenny’s current whereabouts and potential access to children is unknown.
Anthony “Tony” Colangelo (teacher): Colangelo is accused of sexually abusing a minor in approximately 1976 – 1980 at St. Patrick’s Church in Smithtown, New York. According to a 2012 St. Patrick Church anniversary flier, Colangelo was a youth minister at St. Patrick Church and “had a hand in developing programs for young people…as a result, the Youth Community experienced explosive growth.” Colangelo’s current whereabouts and potential access to children is unknown.
Michael Palagonia (teacher): Palagonia was a teacher at Holy Family Diocesan High School in Huntington, New York. Palagonia is accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1983 – 1984, when the victim was approximately 16 – 17 years old. Palagonia’s current whereabouts and potential access to children is unknown.
Survivors of sexual abuse have until this Friday, August 13, 2021, to file a lawsuit under the New York CVA. If you were sexually abused as a child in New York, no matter how old you were, no matter when the abuse occurred, you still have rights, and you can still take action, but time is running out.