Yankees Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, are accused of covering up the sexual abuse of a minor at their church and in their home, according to a lawsuit filed in New York.
The complaint claims the couple hid the abuse of a young girl associated with their church, Refuge of Hope in New Rochelle, where 55-year-old Rivera is the lead pastor.
The suit, filed in the Supreme Court of Westchester County, alleges the Riveras were negligent and did not act upon learning the girl was being sexually abused.
The young victim was allegedly abused by an older minor girl, identified only as “MG,” during a 2018 summer internship at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Fla. that was supported by the Riveras’ church.
Clara Rivera, who’s said to be in charge of Refuge of Hope’s day-to-day operations, allegedly convinced the girl’s family to let her attend the internship in Florida. According to the suit, the Riveras then covered up the abuse upon traveling to the summer camp themselves.
“Rather than take sufficient action to end the sexual abuse of Jane Doe, the Riveras each separately isolated and intimidated Jane Doe to remain silent about her abuse by MG to avoid causing trouble for Refuge of Hope and the Ignite Life Summer Internship,” the complaint states.
According to the lawsuit, the abuse continued at a barbecue hosted at the couple’s former home in Rye, N.Y. after the girl returned home from the internship.
Ruben Tavarez Jr., the adult son of Refuge of Hope Associate Pastor Ruben Tavarez Sr., is also accused of abusing the girl in August 2021.
The complaint also points to separate instances of abuse at Ignite Life Center, where two sons of pastors and a former volunteer have been arrested for child sex crimes.