Mariano Rivera and Wife Accused of Covering Up Child Sex Abuse at Christian Summer Camp

In a shocking turn of events, Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara Rivera have been accused of covering up child sex abuse at a Christian summer camp affiliated with their church and in their own home.

A lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court on Thursday, Jan. 16, alleges that the New York Yankees Hall of Famer, 55, ignored the sexual abuse of a young girl who was a member of his Refuge of Hope Church in Westchester County, N.Y.

The minor, identified as Jane Doe, was born in 2007 and was allegedly abused by an older female minor referred to as “MG” at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Fla. during a 2018 summer internship program associated with the Rivera’s church.

According to court documents, the Riveras isolated and intimidated Jane Doe to remain silent about her abuse in order to avoid trouble for their church and the internship program.

Clara, who is the head pastor of Refuge of Hope, is also named in the complaint. The documents claim that the Ignite Summer Internship required children to reside at the center without parental supervision.

The complaint further alleges that Mariano Rivera paid for Jane Doe's expenses to ensure she could attend the summer program. MG is also accused of abusing Jane Doe at a BBQ at the Riveras' home in 2018.

Additionally, the complaint states that Jane Doe was sexually abused by Ruben Tavarez Jr., the son of the associate pastor of Refuge of Hope, in August 2021.

The plaintiff is seeking a jury trial, claiming that the Riveras falsely promoted their activities as safe and free of harm. Both Mariano and Clara have yet to respond to the allegations.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7 in over 170 languages.