Mariano Rivera added to lawsuit alleging sexual abuse linked to his church
The amended filing was otherwise similar to the original one, plaintiff's attorney Adam Horowitz told ESPN. The complaint alleges that the girl, said to have been born in 2007 and identified by a pseudonym in the filing, attended services at Refuge of Hope. A website for the church says it was founded in 2009 at the Riveras' home before its growth led to the acquisition of a former Presbyterian church in New Rochelle, New York. Clara Rivera is listed as its senior pastor.
An attorney reported to be representing the Riveras, Joseph A. Ruta, did not immediately respond Wednesday evening to a request for comment. In January, Ruta told the Associated Press that the Riveras were being 'targeted by false allegations.'
According to the lawsuit, Clara Rivera recommended to the girl's mother in or around 2018 that the girl attend a summer internship at Ignite Life Center, a church located in Gainesville, Florida. Refuge of Hope was said to have paid for the expenses associated with the internship, which had a provision that children in the program reside at Ignite Life Center without parental supervision. While there, per the lawsuit, the girl was sexually abused by another female internship attendee, then also a minor, who was described as 'a much older camper' who also attended Refuge of Hope. When a phone call from the girl to her mother led the latter to be concerned for her daughter's safety, per the lawsuit, the mother contacted Clara Rivera, who promised to investigate. Clara and Mariano Rivera were said to have traveled from New York to Florida to see the girl at Ignite Life Center.
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