Mariano Rivera, wife Clara, accused in trial of concealing claims of child sexual abuse

AND lawsuit filed last week by the defendant Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara on covering up the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl who was a member of their church in New Rochelle, New York

It is alleged that Rivera, who was closest to the New York Yankees for 17 seasons, and his wife “isolated and intimidated” the girl into remaining silent about her abuse in order to prevent problems for Refuge of Hope, a church the couple helped found, – the lawsuit said.

Refuge of Hope is part of the broader religion and organization of the Assemblies of God.

The lawsuit, filed by the now 17-year-old girl and her mother, whose name is not intended to protect their privacy, seeks unspecified damages for negligent supervision and liability of the premises. The Riveras were identified by their alleged roles but were not named as defendants.

The lawsuit says Clara Rivera, a pastor at that church, told her mother that the girl should take part in a summer internship at Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida, another Assemblies of God church.

The complaint alleges that Refuge of Hope paid for the girl’s stay and required her to stay at the boarding school with other children without parental supervision. Court documents say the older camper, identified in the lawsuit only as “MG,” repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl, who was about 11 years old at the time, in the dorm and in the shower.

The girl told her mother about the abuse and then reported her concerns to Claria Rivera, who told her mother she would investigate and contact her, the lawsuit says. However, court documents show that the situation could not be rectified, and the Riveras allegedly told her mother that the girl was “safe and out of danger.”

The lawsuit says the harassment continued at the Riveras home during a barbecue after the girl returned from her internship. The couple allegedly did not invite their parents to the event, but only the church children, and the girl was left without “MG” supervision even after she learned about the molestation.

The Riveras are accused of failing to take appropriate action and investigate the allegations internally to “avoid scrutiny, public scandal and potential financial loss as allegations of child sexual abuse became public information,” the lawsuit says.

Refuge of Hope youth leader Ruben Tavarez Jr., the son of an assistant pastor, is accused of molesting a girl in 2021, which included “graphic electronic communications of a sexual nature.” The case ended when the girl’s mother confronted Tavarez, according to the lawsuit.

Last month, members of the Assemblies of God settled three court cases who alleged similar abuse of minors. A former employee of Ignite Life Center entered into a criminal plea agreement in connection with sexual abuse.