Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio retiring from Diocese of Brooklyn
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is retiring from his post as the leader of the Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, just weeks after being cleared of sexual abuse allegations made by two men who said the incidents happened when they were younger.
The diocese announced DiMarzio’s resignation Wednesday as Pope Francis accepted his departure.
DiMarzio, who turned 75 on June 16, 2019, submitted his resignation on that date as required by Canon Law, and the pontiff signed off on it Wednesday, the diocese said.
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Robert Brennan of Columbus, Ohio, to take over DiMarzio’s role, the diocese said.
The resignation comes after DiMarzio was cleared on Sept. 1 by an investigation coordinated by the neighboring Archdiocese of New York — following allegations by two men who separately claimed DiMarzio had abused them a half-century ago, when he was a priest in New Jersey.
The sexual abuse allegations were found “not to have the semblance of truth,” according to a press release from the Archdiocese of New York, which oversaw the investigation.
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who represents the two men, said in a Wednesday morning statement that DiMarzio’s retirement “will not prevent the two separate civil lawsuits against Bishop DiMarzio from proceeding.”
“The recent finding of the Vatican clearing Bishop DiMarzio of sexual abuse was the result of a biased investigation rendered by a self-serving Vatican court with a predetermined agenda,” Garabedian said.
At a Wednesday press conference, DiMarzio said his retirement “obviously” had “nothing to do with the investigation,” and defended those who conducted the probe.
“The investigation, as we know, was conducted by a former prosecutor and a firm headed by a former head of the FBI,” he said. “So, I think they put their reputations on the line. I think that investigation was second to none. And it found that there was no evidence of any kind of abuse.”
“Obviously there are civil cases still pending that are in New Jersey, because it supposedly happened in those early years when I was a priest,” he added. “So we have to still deal with that. And that will keep me in my retirement busy, I’m sure. But I didn’t expect Mr. Garabedian to drop the cases because I retired.”
Brennan, DiMarzio’s successor, told reporters that “the reality of child abuse and of sex abuse is absolutely horrendous.”
“It’s intolerable and it’s something that we are working hard to fight. First of all in preventing it from ever happening again,” he said. “While we feel particular shame because the church bears a certain responsibility, it is a societal problem. And I would say that most of these things are things that happened in the past. And we are committed, we are really committed, not to let this happen again.”
Brennan, 59, was born in the Bronx and raised in Lindenhurst, Long Island, according to his bio issued by the diocese.
“In the selection of Bishop Robert Brennan, the Holy Father has called upon a native New Yorker to return to lead the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens,” DiMarzio said in a statement. “On behalf of the Diocese of Brooklyn, I welcome Bishop Brennan who I have known for many years, with confidence in his ability to lead our Catholic community and build upon the pastoral achievements we have made. It has truly been an honor to serve as Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn for 18 years.”
“This is a historic moment for the Diocese of Brooklyn which is a very active Diocese, and Bishop Brennan’s energy makes him a perfect choice,” the bishop continued. “I ask for God’s blessings on this transition so that the work of God, in service to His people, can effectively continue for the more than 1.2 million Catholics throughout Brooklyn and Queens.”
Brennan will be installed as the eighth bishop of Brooklyn during a Nov. 30 Mass at St. Joseph’s Co-Cathedral.
With Post wires