Catholic Church & Clergy Sex Abuse & Molestation Attorneys
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been abused or molested by a Catholic Priest or any other member of the clergy, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.
Update: New List of Catholic Priests Accused of Sex Abuse Includes Dozens of St. Louis Jesuits
December 11, 2018 - Two massive Catholic Jesuit provinces whose territory covers nearly half the U.S. last week released the names of 153 priests and brothers credibly accused of sexually abusing minors and vulnerable adults dating back all the way back to the 1940s. The Province says each claim listed is a credible one that has been verified, and there is never any implication that the abuse allegations are true or that the accused has been found guilty of a crime.
How to Define Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse refers to sexual impropriety that includes rape and sexual assault, and typically occurs between an adult and a child. Catholic Church sexual abuse is a horrific crime that steals the innocence of children and young people, and often leaves deep-seated wounds that victims suffer from for many years after the fact.
Many victims of sexual abuse are forced to remain quiet and suffer in silence because they are ashamed to tell their stories as well as afraid that no one will believe them. Priests and members of the clergy are trusted figures of authority within the Catholic Church.
One of the more disturbing aspects about child sex abuse in the Catholic Church is its practice of transferring pedophile priests to different parishes in different states or even different countries. There is usually a paper trail of allegations that the church tries to keep secret.
Almost all cases of Catholic child sexual abuse would not exist without a church hierarchy that protects and harbors its pedophile priests. Some priests are active pedophiles who move from parish to parish, winning the trust of their new congregations while continuing to pursue and abuse their children.
Part of the battle against child sexual abuse is taking individual pedophiles to court and making sure they are punished to the fullest extent of the law. However, as recent well-publicized cases against the Catholic Church have shown, the battle must also be waged against institutions that cover up incidents of molestation and thus protect abusers.
Related Article: Van Nuys Teacher and Coach Arrested for Child Molestation
Grand Jury Report Finds 1,000+ Cases of Catholic Priest Abuse in PA, Widespread Cover-Up Among Diocese
August 16, 2018 - Catholic Priests in Pennsylvania sexually abused more than 1,000 children over a period of 7 decades, with bishops and other clergy members covering up the abuse and exacerbating the problem, a new grand jury report (PDF) has found. The jury described the church’s method of dealing with complaints of abuse as “a playbook for concealing the truth,” after FBI agents found a specific protocol in diocese files.
Clergy Abuse Update 5/25/12: This week, thousands of documents concerning nine Roman Catholic priests who settled a landmark clergy abuse lawsuit in 2006 were made public. The newly-released files provide a detailed look into the accusations, as well as reveal instances when members of the clergy were allowed to interact with children despite their superiors being aware of previous indiscretions.
See more: Roman Catholic Priests Sex Abuse Documents
Catholic Sexual Abuse Update 4/12/12: The number of reports of sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests skyrocketed by more than 15% last year, according to a recent audit released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 2011, there were nearly 500 credible reports filed against Roman Catholic priests or deacons nationwide.
Click on the links below if you’d like additional information about sex molestation claims from Schmidt & Clark, LLP:
Do I have a Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
The Sexual Abuse Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Catholic church and clergy sex abuse and molestation lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.
Free Catholic Church Sex Abuse & Molestation Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been abused or molested by any Catholic church clergy, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.
