Archdiocese of New York awards settlement in sex abuse case of 2 Bronx sisters

The Archdiocese of New York awarded a settlement Tuesday in a case involving two sisters from the Bronx who say they were sexually abused as children by a prominent priest.
Amelda Maldando Diaz and her sister, Mercedes, say they endured child molestation for years at the hands of their parish priest, the late Monsignor Charles McDonaugh.
McDonaugh was a priest in the early 1970s at Our Lady of Refugee parish in the Bronx, where the sisters attended school. The women say the abuse began when they were seven years old, and lasted until they were 12 years old when McDonaugh was reassigned to a high-ranking position within the Archdiocese of New York.
The sisters say they kept the abuse hidden for years until their childhood friend, Michael Meenan, came forward publicly to expose his own suffering at the hands of another parish priest who was removed from public ministry last year.
The Archdiocese of New York says it cannot comment on any settlements. A spokesperson tells News 12 that, "I invite anyone with a claim against a priest or deacon of the Archdiocese to come forward, report the allegation to law enforcement, and contact the Archdiocese and the IRCP (Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program)."