New York subpoenas every Catholic diocese in state

New York prosecutors are subpoenaing each Catholic diocese in the state as part of investigations into clerical abuse after at least 1,000 victims were recently identified in neighbouring Pennsylvania.

All eight Catholic dioceses have either been or are in the process of being subpoenaed by New York's state attorney general, confirmed Dennis Poust, spokesman for the New York State Catholic Conference.

There are an estimated seven million Catholics across New York, which is the fourth most populous state in the country.

Prosecutors are investigating whether and how Catholic dioceses and other church entities potentially covered up allegations of sexual abuse of children.

New York has also set up a clerical abuse hotline and online complaints form, and on Thursday urged victims, witnesses and anyone else with any information on abusive clergy to come forward.

All allegations will be reviewed, and victims' and witnesses' identities will be protected, officials said.

The announcement comes just over three weeks after a grand jury revealed that more than 300 priests abused at least 1,000 children across seven decades in Pennsylvania and that the Catholic Church engaged in a systematic cover-up.

"The Pennsylvania grand jury report shined a light on incredibly disturbing and depraved acts by Catholic clergy, assisted by a culture of secrecy and cover ups," said New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood.

"Victims in New York deserve to be heard as well -- and we are going to do everything in our power to bring them the justice they deserve," she added, urging "all victims and anyone else with information to contact our hotline."