‘Jane Doe’ settles priest sexual abuse lawsuit against Diocese of Rockville Centre

The Diocese of Rockville Centre has publicly named a priest accused of sexually abusing a child more than 35 years ago.
A woman, known only as Jane Doe, settled a lawsuit against Fr. Joseph D. Casaclang with the diocese. She claims that she was between the ages of 10-13 when she was a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Parish in Kings Park. According to the suit, Father Casaclang visited the family and sexually abuse the girl at her family’s home.
The alleged abuse occurred between 1979 and 1982.
In a phone call, Jane Doe says she settled the lawsuit for an amount in the low six-figures.
“It’s more of an acknowledgment by the church of what happened. It doesn’t make it go away…At least it’s a step in the right direction,” she said.
The diocese declined to comment about the settlement or the current whereabouts of “Father Joe.”
Records provided by Doe’s attorney show that Casaclang left St. Joesph’s Parish just after his alleged abuse was reported to the diocese. He was then transferred to a church in Syosset and then one in Manhasset. Records of his church assignments stopped in 2000.