• Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara are now named in a lawsuit accusing them of covering up child sexual abuse at their church and home.
• The lawsuit claims the abuse happened during a church-linked summer camp and a barbecue at the Riveras’ former home.
• The Riveras allegedly ignored warnings, pressured the victim to stay silent, and promoted their church as a safe place despite known risks.

Former Yankees star Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara are now officially named as defendants in a shocking child sexual abuse lawsuit. The case was first filed in January by a girl and her mother in Westchester County, New York. It accuses the Riveras of helping cover up sexual abuse that happened at their home and at a summer camp connected to their church. At first, the lawsuit mentioned them but did not name them as defendants. That changed on Wednesday when the girl’s lawyer, Adam Horowitz, updated the case and added their names. ESPN reported this major update.

Church and Summer Camp at the Center of the Case

The lawsuit focuses on events tied to Refuge of Hope, a church the Riveras helped lead. They started it as a limited liability company. The camp where the abuse happened was part of a summer program linked to this church. The church used their home address at one point, but they sold the house in 2022. Even though they founded the church, the Riveras no longer have an official connection to the LLC. The new filing names them personally and accuses them of failing to protect the girl from abuse.

No Criminal Charges Filed But Claims Remain Serious

Police have not charged Mariano or Clara Rivera with any crime. However, the lawsuit accuses them of ignoring warnings and trying to protect the church instead of the victim. Their lawyer, Joseph A. Ruta, strongly denied all claims. He called the accusations “completely false.” He also said the Riveras first learned about the claims in 2022 when a lawyer contacted them and asked for money to settle the matter privately. They refused to pay, and now they face serious public accusations in court.

Girl Was Sent to Internship Where First Abuse Happened

The lawsuit says Clara convinced the girl—who is identified as “Jane Doe”—to travel to Gainesville, Florida for a summer internship. Ignite Life Center hosted the program. It worked closely with Refuge of Hope. The girl agreed to go because she trusted Clara. But once there, she was allegedly abused by an older female camper. The girl was also a minor. The abuse happened in the dorms and showers, according to the court filing. The older girl allegedly touched and penetrated her private areas.

Mother Warned Clara but Got False Promises

After learning about the abuse, Doe’s mother contacted Clara. She told her she was worried about her daughter’s safety. Clara promised to investigate. She and Mariano later visited the camp. But instead of helping, they allegedly made the situation worse. The lawsuit claims they each spoke to the girl alone. During those talks, they allegedly told her to stay quiet. They warned her not to cause problems for the church or the summer camp.

Abuse Continued After Camp at Rivera Family Home

The lawsuit says the abuse didn’t stop at the camp. It accuses the same older girl of abusing Doe again weeks later. This happened at a barbecue held at the Riveras’ home in Rye, New York. The event took place in August 2018. Parents were not invited. The older girl came to the party and allegedly abused Doe again. The lawsuit says the abuse that happened would qualify as a sexual offense under New York law.

Another Alleged Assault Took Place in 2021

Doe says the abuse continued years later. In 2021, she was allegedly abused again. This time, the person involved was the adult son of an associate pastor at Refuge of Hope. He worked as a youth leader in the church. The lawsuit does not name him, but it says the Riveras were responsible for putting him in a position of power. The girl trusted him because of his role at the church. But he used that role to harm her, the lawsuit says.

Church Created a False Sense of Safety

The lawsuit claims the Riveras made their church seem safe and moral. They held events that looked family-friendly. They promoted the summer camp and other programs as safe places for children. But the lawsuit says they knew about the risks and failed to act. Instead of removing dangerous people, they protected them. They wanted to protect their church’s reputation, the lawsuit claims, even if that meant putting children in danger.

Mariano Rivera’s Legacy Now Under Question

Mariano Rivera retired from baseball in 2013 after a long and successful career. He played with the New York Yankees for 19 seasons. He helped the team win five World Series titles. In 2019, he entered the Baseball Hall of Fame as the first player ever to receive 100% of the votes. He is widely seen as one of the best closers in baseball history. Rivera also supports President Donald Trump and has stayed active in public life. This lawsuit now places his personal legacy under serious public scrutiny.