Who is MLB star Mariano Rivera’s wife Clara Rivera? The pastor and her Yankees Hall of Famer husband have just been accused of covering up child abuse at their church in New York
Mariano Rivera and Clara Rivera are both pastors at the Refuge of Hope church in New York; while the two have been married for decades, Rivera was accused of fathering 2 children out of wedlock
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, New York, 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, Florida, 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 travelling to the summer camp themselves.
According to the lawsuit, the abuse continued at a barbecue hosted at the couple’s former home in Rye, New York, 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.
Mariano and Clara Rivera have since publicly denied the allegations, calling them “completely false”.
Here’s everything to know about Mariano Rivera’s wife, Clara.