New York Yankees legend Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, have been named defendants in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual abuse at events connected to their church, Refuge of Hope, in Westchester County, New York, according to an ESPN report by Michael McCann on April 30, 2025. The lawsuit, initially filed in January 2025 in Westchester County Supreme Court, stems from claims by a girl and her mother that the girl, identified as Jane Doe, was sexually assaulted by an older child, “MG,” at church-related events, including a summer camp and a barbecue at the Riveras’ former home in Rye, New York.
The complaint originally named Refuge of Hope—founded by the Riveras in 2009—and a limited liability company tied to their former home address, which they sold in 2022, per Yahoo Sports’ January 23, 2025, report by Jay Busbee. While the Riveras were not initially named as defendants, the lawsuit accused them of “failing to protect the girl” by allegedly isolating and intimidating her to remain silent to avoid trouble for the church and its Ignite Life Summer Internship program, per court documents cited by The Daily Mail on January 23, 2025. The girl, around 11 at the time, was allegedly abused in 2018 at the camp and later at the Riveras’ home during a barbecue, with further abuse in 2021 by a youth leader, Ruben Tavarez Jr., the son of an associate pastor, who sent “graphic electronic communications of a sexual nature,” per the lawsuit.
On April 30, 2025, the girl’s attorney, Adam Horowitz, amended the filing to add Mariano and Clara Rivera as named defendants after determining they were not connected to the LLC, per ESPN. Horowitz noted that the lawsuit’s core allegations remain unchanged, focusing on the Riveras’ alleged failure to act. Clara Rivera serves as senior pastor at Refuge of Hope, located in New Rochelle, about 15 miles from Yankee Stadium, per The Daily Mail. The Riveras have not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing, and the case seeks financial damages for their alleged negligence.
The Allegations and the Riveras’ Response
The lawsuit details disturbing claims, alleging that the girl was sexually assaulted by MG in a dormitory and shower at the Ignite Life Summer Internship, a program tied to Refuge of Hope, which paid for her attendance but required her to stay without parental supervision, per Yahoo Sports. After the girl reported the abuse to her mother, who then informed Clara Rivera, the lawsuit claims Clara promised to investigate but failed to follow through. Instead, both Mariano and Clara allegedly “isolated and intimidated” the girl to suppress the allegations, prioritizing the church’s reputation over her safety, per court documents. A separate 2021 incident involving Tavarez Jr., who is not named as a defendant, further escalated the claims against the church’s oversight.
The Riveras responded to the allegations in January 2025, denying any knowledge of the abuse until 2022, when they received a letter from a New York attorney requesting a financial settlement, followed by a second letter in 2023 from a Florida law firm, per The Daily Mail. Their attorney, Joseph A. Ruta, issued a statement asserting, “The very first time they heard about these allegations was nearly four years after the alleged incident… This was followed by a second letter in 2023 from a different Florida law firm, again requesting a financial settlement.” Ruta added, “The lawsuit, which seeks financial damages for the Riveras’ alleged failure to act on alleged incidents that were never reported to them, is full of inaccurate and misleading statements which we have no doubt will not hold up in a court of law.” The Riveras emphasized their intolerance for child abuse, noting their long history of charitable work with underprivileged children, per The Associated Press on January 23, 2025.
Context and Broader Implications
Refuge of Hope, which began as a gathering space in the Riveras’ home before moving to a dedicated building in New Rochelle, has faced prior scrutiny. The Associated Press reported that Ignite Life Center, a related entity, settled lawsuits from three individuals alleging abuse by a volunteer, and two others affiliated with the church were charged with lewd and lascivious battery against minors. These incidents, spanning 2018 to 2021, highlight a pattern of alleged oversight failures, though the Riveras maintain they were unaware of the specific allegations in the current lawsuit until years later.
Mariano Rivera, a Baseball Hall of Famer and the greatest closer in MLB history with 652 career saves, per MLB.com, has been a revered figure in New York, known for his 17 seasons with the Yankees and his philanthropy. The lawsuit casts a shadow over his legacy, though the lack of criminal charges and the Riveras’ firm denial suggest a complex legal battle ahead. The case also echoes broader issues of accountability in religious institutions, as seen in a similar lawsuit against a Goshen, New York, ambulance corps for sexual assault by an EMT, per westchester.news12.com on April 30, 2025.
As the lawsuit progresses, the Riveras’ legal team will likely focus on disproving the allegations of intimidation and negligence, while Horowitz aims to hold them accountable for the church’s alleged failures. For now, the case remains a contentious chapter for the Riveras, challenging their public image while raising critical questions about the protection of vulnerable children in faith-based programs.
