SORRY: Diocese of Brooklyn
leader Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio
expressed remorse for victims.
File photo by Paul Martinka
the named priests’ past parish
postings and their current
status within the church, according
to the diocese, whose
leader said he published the
list in an effort to help victims
heal.
“I have met with many victims
who have told me that
more than anything, they want
an acknowledgment of what
was done to them,” said Bishop
Nicholas DiMarzio. “This list
BY COLIN MIXSON
The Diocese of Brooklyn must
release the criteria its leaders
used to determine the credibility
of sex-abuse accusations
against the dozens of Catholic
priests included in a list of alleged
predators church offi cials
unveiled last month, according
to a lawyer for abuse victims.
“Many of my clients are
looking at the list with skepticism,”
said Mitchell Garabedian,
a Boston-based attorney
with local clients alleging
abuse at the hands of Kings
County Catholic clergymen.
“The Brooklyn Diocese has not
stated what criteria it has used
to determine if a priest should
be listed as a perpetrator, or sex
abuser.”
The Catholic Church’s 166-
year-old Kings County diocese
on Feb. 15 published a list of 108
clergymen — a whopping fi ve
percent of its borough priests
— facing sex-abuse accusations
that diocesan offi cials believe
“may be true.” The list features
additional information including
gives that recognition and I
hope it will add another layer
of healing.”
But Garabedian — whose
role in exposing sex abuse
within the Archdiocese of Boston
was featured in the 2015
fi lm “Spotlight” — doubts the
thoroughness of the local diocese’s
list, due to the church’s
history of covering up sex
abuse within its ranks, and its
strong opposition to the Child
Victims Act, legislation extending
the statute of limitations for
sex crimes, which Gov. Cuomo
signed into law this month after
the bill languished in Albany
for 13 years .
“We’re looking with skepticism,
since history has taught
us the Catholic Church cannot
self police,” he said.
The lawyer suggested the
diocese’s list — and the settlement
program for abuse victims
it launched in 2017 — is
more spin control than sincere
apology, and said a more honest
expression of remorse would
be naming priests who helped
Beauty and
brains!
Drag queen Cholula Lemon
applied makeup to Jonathan
Hamilt, who invited the performer
to host a cosmetics tutorial
for tweens at the Brooklyn
Public Library’s Courtelyou
Library in Ditmas Park on Feb.
21. The cosmetology class for
12- to 18-year-olds sprung from
the library system’s ongoing
partnership with Hamilt’s dogood
group Drag Queen Story
Hour — which brings queens to
borough book lenders to read
to youngsters. For more from
the absolutely fabulous event,
see page 18.
Photo by Caroline Ourso
cover up the alleged abuse in
addition to identifying the purported
“It’s damage control by the
church,” Garabedian said. “If
they were really interested in
healing, they would release all
information related to the cover
up and abuse of children.”
Whatever criteria diocese
leaders used resulted in the
list including the late Mgsr.
Thomas Brady , who beat accusations
two teen boys when a grand
jury failed to indict him due to
lack of evidence following his
2011 arrest .
But even if the diocese released
separate credible accusations
from non-credible ones, there
is no reason to assume that information
according to another lawyer for
local abuse victims, who said
the only true measure of guilt
will come from litigating the
many sex-assault claims currently
priests.
INSIDE
Twice upon a time
Two fairy tale musicals swing into Brooklyn
By Adam Fillmore We’re a city of two tales!
Two different fairy tales musicals flitted
into the County of Kings last weekend. In
Park Slope, the Gallery Players presented “Once Upon a
Mattress,” while in Brooklyn Heights, Theater 2020 performed
“Into the Woods.” Both shows run through March
17 — but which is the most magical show?
“Once Upon a Mattress” is a downy bit of fluff.
Based on “The Princess and the Pea,” it offers a bright
and charming story about a gung-ho princess who rescues
a prince with the power of spunk and indefatigable
This production makes the kingdom a primary-colored
playground, with gay and straight couples among the court
color-coordinated for convenience, and the big dance
scene of “the Spanish Panic,” which uses every character
— and every popular dance move of the last 40 years — is
terrifically fun. In the role of Princess Winnifred, Alyson
Leigh Rosenfeld has enormous appeal, and she can belt
out a tune with the best when she needs too — but in too
many songs, I strained to hear the lyrics.
This production tries to update the frankly dicey
gender politics of the script, which dates from 1959, but
there’s only so far it can go, and remnants of the lascivious
original — like the king “groping his way in the dark”
are left to flounder. And a few scenes felt unmotivated,
Panic at the disco: The cast of “Once Upon a
Mattress,” including, at center, Gerardo Vallejo
as Prince Dauntless and Alyson Leigh Rosenfel as
Princess Winnifred, throw themselves into a joyous
dance called “The Spanish Panic.” Steven Pisano
But witch way?: In the Theater 2020 production of “Into the Woods,”
the Baker’s Wife (Elizabeth Kensek), the Baker (Rudy Martinez), and the
Witch (Julia Goretsky) square off. John Robert Hoffman
and slowed down the fun, like the five minutes of quiet
stomping at the top of the second act, and a soft shoe that
comes from nowhere.
In contrast, “Into the Woods,” the Stephen Sondheim
mash-up of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the
Beanstalk, and a half-dozen other Grimm fairy tales, is
decidedly darker and more intimate, with a much smaller
cast and just a piano to provide the music.
Producer and director David Fuller sets the play in a
refugee camp “somewhere in the world,” which, honestly,
does not make even a little bit of sense. These refugees are
living in the house the Baker’s father made? And they’re
going to fancy dance parties? But the t-shirts and the wire
fences fall away once the music starts. The characters fill
the room, and the actors find the humor and the pathos
of the show.
Especially funny are Alexander Coopersmith and
John Jeffords, who double as the blowhard Princes and as
Cinderella’s evil stepsisters, sometimes switching parts
multiple times in the course of a line. The Witch (Julia
Goretsky) wrings every bit of humor out of harrying
the Baker and his Wife (Rudy Martinez and Elizabeth
Knesek) who both ground the play with real emotion.
And as the Wolf (and a half-dozen other animals) Torian
Brackett steals every scene.
Of the two, I think you can sleep on “Mattress,” and
direct your steps “Into the Woods.”
“Once Upon a Mattress” at Gallery Players (199 14th
St. between Fourth and Fifth avenues in Park Slope, (718)
595–0547, www.galleryplayers.com). Through March 17;
Fri at 7:30 pm; Sat at 2 pm and 7:30 pm; Sun at 3 pm. $25
($20 seniors and kids).
“Into The Woods” at Founders Hall at St. Francis
College (180 Remsen St. between Court and Clinton streets
in Brooklyn Heights, www.theater2020.com). Through
March 17; Thu–Sun at various times. $40 ($30 students
and seniors).
Your entertainment
guide Page 47
dancing.
Police Blotter ..........................8
Brownstoner ........................20
Letters .................................... 32
The Right View ....................34
Health ..................................... 35
HOW TO REACH US
COURIER L 2 IFE, MARCH 1–7, 2019 M BR B G
predators.
of sexual abuse against
the criteria it used to
would be accurate,
waged against Brooklyn
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Seeking Catholic clarity
Lawyer: Diocese must release more details about its list of predatory priests
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