Ordained: 1968
Suspended: 2018
Assignment History:
- 1969-1976: St. Paul’s (Staten Island, NY)
- 1977-1986: St. Joseph’s-St. Thomas (Staten Island, NY)
- 1987-2008: St. Christopher and St. Sylvia (Red Hook, NY)
- 2010-2017: St. Christopher and St. Sylvia (Red Hook, NY)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Charles Coen:
In 2018, the Archdiocese of New York received an accusation of sexual abuse against Fr. Charles Coen, which allegedly occurred in 1978, while serving at St. Joseph’s-St. Thomas, in Staten Island, NY.
The allegation against Coen, which the archdiocese called “credible and substantiated” after completing its review process, was lodged by a young man who alleged that in 1978 when Coen was assistant pastor at the Staten Island parish, molested him in the church sacristy during a fitting for altar server robes. The claimant alleged that Coen ordered several boys to stand outside the church, partially unclothed, until he could measure each of them for robes. Coen was stripped of his priestly duties in 2018. The canonical process is still pending.
Coen stated, “I am not only denying the charge, but it couldn’t possibly have happened. One thousand percent, I didn’t do this”.
Now living in a New York retirement home at the age of 86, Coen suffers from health issues. He instructed lawyers that he did not wish to pursue his defense any further given his advanced age and weak health.
Coen is named on the Archdiocese of New York’s 2019 List of Archdiocesan Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor or the Subject of Eligible IRCP Compensation Claims.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of New York. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest or other Catholic clergy in New York State, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of New York now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in New York and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.