Alabama’s civil statute of limitations (SOL) laws are less victim friendly in providing survivors of childhood sexual abuse an avenue to justice than many other states around the country. There are also no civil SOL reform bills scheduled to be introduced to the state’s Legislature at this time, meaning sexual abuse survivors will have to wait even longer to potentially receive any justice. SOL laws enable lawyers handling sexual abuse claims in Alabama to file cases against sexual predators, including clergy members, and the Catholic Church.
Alabama Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse & Assault
Alabama has made little progress in the past decade towards helping survivors of sexual abuse get civil justice. The state’s civil age cap is on the low end of the spectrum when compared to many other states, which means it could be doing much more to help survivors. There also doesn’t appear to be any help on the horizon as there are no civil SOL reform bills scheduled to be introduced to the state’s Legislature.
Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws for Alabama
In Alabama, there is no criminal SOL for rape and felony and misdemeanor sex offenses against victims under the age of 16. The SOL for other felonies is 5 years from the offense and misdemeanors have an SOL of 1 year from the incident. Child USA, who has evaluated every state based on its criminal statute of limitations laws, gave Alabama a Criminal SOL letter grade of B, on the traditional A-F scale, where A is the best. A letter grade of B is defined as elimination of the criminal SOL for some felonies and misdemeanors.
Civil Statute of Limitations Laws for Alabama
In Alabama, the civil SOL for child sex abuse claims is capped at age 25. There is no discovery rule for civil actions in Alabama. Child USA, who has also evaluated every state based on its civil statute of limitations laws, gave Alabama a Civil SOL Age Cap letter grade of F, on the traditional A-F scale, where A is the best. A letter grade of F is defined as a civil SOL age cap age 34 or younger.
If you or someone you love was sexually abused or assaulted in Alabama, contact us now. Due to Alabama’s current laws, those sexually abused as a minor may still have a claim against their abuser, depending on how long ago the abuse occurred. Even if the abuser is deceased, you may still have a claim against the organization responsible.
2004 – The Archdiocese of Mobile admitted that 13 members of its clergy had been accused of sexual abuse of children by 18 people. The abuse dated back to the 1950s. The archdiocese reported it paid out roughly $700,000 in settlements and other costs related to these claims.
The settlements listed above are offered for educational purposes only and do not guarantee any future outcome or settlement. Each legal situation is different, and past performance does not guarantee future results. We do not maintain that is a full list of all settlements in the state of Alabama but merely a grouping of those we choose to share on our website. Please contact us if you would like additional settlements included or if you notice any inaccuracies on our site. We strive to provide our viewers the most up to date and accurate information as possible.
Alabama Catholic Dioceses Releases Names of Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of Children
Catholic Dioceses in Alabama have released the names of priests and clergy members who they deemed to be ‘credibly accused’ of sexual abuse of a child.
The list below will be updated as litigation or investigations are concluded so that new names of credibly accused priests in Alabama can be added.
Use the links below to navigate directly to a particular diocese’s clergy list.
Archdiocese of Mobile Credibly Accused Priest List
wdt_ID
First Name
Last Name
Diocese/ Order
Clergy Status
Assignments
1
John Alex
Sherlock
Archdiocese of Mobile
Deceased
St. Mary Parish, Mobile; Bishop Toolen High School, Mobile; Little Flower Parish, Mobile; St. Patrick's College, Mountainview, California; Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; McGill-Toolen High School, Mobile; Cathedral Parish, Mobile; Holy Family Parish, Mobile; St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Chickasaw; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Mobile; St. Pius X Parish, Mobile; St. Peter Parish, Montgomery
2
Susai
Arul
Religious Order
Prohibited from ministry
Little Flower Parish, Mobile
3
Joseph
Brown
Religious Order
Prohibited from ministry
Shrine of the Holy Cross Parish, Daphne
4
Thomas J.
Cullen
Archdiocese of Mobile
Deceased
St. Mary Parish, Mobile; St. Margaret Parish, Bayou La Batre; Cathedral Parish, Mobile; St. Monica Parish, Mobile; Christ the King Parish, Andalusia; St. Mary Parish, Texas City, Texas
5
Vernon
Dahmen
Archdiocese of Mobile
Deceased
St. Dominic Parish, Mobile; St. Mary Parish, Mobile; St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Mobile; McGill-Toolen High School; Little Flower Parish, Mobile; St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Chickasaw; St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Mobile; Allen Memorial Home, Mobile
6
Edward Eugene
Smith
Archdiocese of Mobile
Prohibited from ministry
Our Savior Parish, Mobile; Hotel Dieu Hospital, New Orleans; St. Pius X Parish, Mobile; McGill-Toolen High School, Mobile; St. Dominic Parish, Mobile
7
Timothy
Evans
Archdiocese of Mobile
Prohibited from ministry in diocese
Christ the King Parish, Daphne; Annunciation Parish, Monroeville; St. Margaret Parish, Bayou La Batre; Director, Office of Youth Ministry
8
Gregory
Furjanic
Religious Order
Deceased
St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Mobile; St. Monica Parish, Mobile; Immaculate Conception Parish, Orrville; Sacred Heart Parish, Grove Hill
9
Joseph
Gill
Archdiocese of Mobile
Deceased
Blessed Sacrament Parish, Birmingham; St. John Parish, Warrington, Florida; Cathedral Parish, Mobile; Sacred Heart Parish, Grove Hill; St. Columba Parish, Dothan; St. Aloysius Parish, Bessemer; St. William Parish, Guntersville; St. Thomas Parish, Chickasaw; St. Catherine Parish, Mobile; Sacred Heart Residence, Little Sisters of the Poor, Mobile; St. Bridget Parish, Whistler; In Residence, St. Anthony Parish, Birmingham
10
Robert
Grabowski
Religious Order
Prohibited from ministry
McGill-Toolen High School, Mobile
11
John
Hardman
Religious Order
Deceased
Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Mobile
12
James A.
Havens
Archdiocese of Mobile
Deceased
St. Dominic Parish, Mobile; Little Flower Parish, Mobile; St. John Parish, Butler; Sacred Heart Parish, Grove Hill; St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Mobile
13
Timothy
Keppel
Religious Order
Prohibited from ministry
Resurrection Parish, Montgomery
14
Anthony
Kiel
Religious Order
Deceased
St. Joseph Parish, Maysville
15
Cordell
Lang
Archdiocese of Mobile
Deceased
Not reported
16
Edward
Lawler
Religious Order
Deceased
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Birmingham; St. Peter Claver Parish, Mobile; Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Mobile; St. Joseph Parish, Mobile
17
Edward A.
Leary
Religious Order
Deceased
Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Selma
18
Patrick J. L.
Nicholson
Archdiocese of Mobile
Prohibited from ministry
Little Flower Parish, Mobile; Assistant Director for Vocations; McGill-Toolen High School, Mobile; St. Pius X Parish, Mobile; St. Joseph Parish, Prattville; Chaplain, US Air Force (Little Rock AFB, Arkansas; Clark AFB, Philippines; Dept. of the Air Force, San Francisco, California; United States Air Force Academy, Colorado; Maxwell AFB, Montgomery); Diocese of Elphin, Ireland
19
Ralph
McGarry
Religious Order
Deceased
Catholic Boys Home
20
Gerald
McMahon
Religious Order
Prohibited from ministry
St. Benedict School, Elberta
21
Robert
Michele
Religious Order
Prohibited from ministry
Catholic Information Center, Mobile
22
Robert L.
Nouwen
Archdiocese of Mobile
Prohibited from ministry
St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Mobile
23
Norman
Rogge
Religious Order
Deceased
St. Ignatius Parish, Mobile
24
John
Rutledge
Religious Order
Deceased
St. Michael Parish, Auburn
25
Barry
Ryan
Religious Order
Prohibited from ministry
Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery
26
Arthur C.
Schrenger
Archdiocese of Mobile
Prohibited from ministry
Little Flower Parish, Mobile; St. Dominic Parish, Mobile; McGill-Toolen High School, Mobile; St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Mobile; Assistant Vocations Director; St. Agatha Parish, Bay Minette; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Mobile; Holy Spirit Parish, Montgomery; Metropolitan Tribunal; Cathedral Parish, Mobile
27
Nicholas Vic
Bendillo
Religious Order
Deceased
McGill Institute, Mobile; McGill-Toolen High School, Mobile
28
John J.
Walton
Archdiocese of Mobile
Deceased
St. Margaret Parish, Bayou La Batre; US Army Reserve, Military Archdiocese; St. Maurice Parish, Brewton; Christ the King Parish, Andalusia; St. Joan of Arc Parish, Mobile; St. Pius X Parish, Mobile; Holy Name Parish, Semmes
29
Nelson
Ziter
Religious Order
Deceased
Queen of Peace Parish, Selma; St. Philip Neri Parish, Belle Fontaine; St. Elizabeth Parish, Selma; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Mobile
Diocese of Birmingham Credibly Accused Priest List
wdt_ID
Last Name
First Name
Year of Ordination
Clergy Status
1
Bordenca
Charles
1955
Deceased
2
Cooke
Kevin
1978
Removed
3
Cross
Charles V.
1960
Deceased
4
Franklin
Jonathan
1956
Deceased
5
Lott
Roger
1954
Deceased
6
Ventura
John J.
1968
Removed
Click to view our larger list of accused priests. Here you can search by accused clergy first and last name, Parish/Diocese, city and state, and even by the years of their assignments.