Mariano and Clara Rivera Respond to Child Abuse Allegations
Former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara Rivera, have been accused of failing to address the sexual abuse of a minor associated with their Refuge of Hope Church in Westchester County, New York. The allegations, revealed on January 22, claim that the couple ignored incidents of abuse that occurred during a church-affiliated summer internship program.
The lawsuit states that the alleged victim, referred to as “Jane Doe,” was sexually abused by another minor, identified as “MG,” during a 2018 internship at Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida, and again at the Riveras’ home in Rye, New York. Additionally, the suit accuses Ruben Tavarez Jr., son of Refuge of Hope’s associate pastor, of sexually abusing the victim in 2021.
Court documents allege that instead of addressing the abuse, the Riveras intimidated the victim to keep silent to protect their church’s reputation. They are also accused of misrepresenting the church as a safe and moral environment.
The plaintiff’s attorney, Adam Horowitz, praised the victim for coming forward, stating:
“Reporting sex crimes is always difficult, especially when powerful individuals are involved. We are prepared to pursue this matter in court.”
Riveras Deny Allegations
Through their attorney, Joseph A. Ruta, the Riveras denied the claims and described the lawsuit as containing false and misleading statements. Ruta stated:
“Mariano and Clara Rivera do not tolerate child abuse of any kind, and allegations that they ignored or failed to act are completely false. The first they heard of these claims was in 2022, nearly four years after the alleged incidents, when an attorney sought a financial settlement. Another settlement request followed in 2023. We are confident these allegations will not hold up in court.”
Mariano Rivera is a Hall of Fame pitcher known for his career with the Yankees, while Clara Rivera serves as the head pastor of Refuge of Hope Church.
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