• Lawsuit Alleges Former Cardinal McCarrick Involved in ‘Sex Ring’ September 30, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse A lawsuit has been filed in New Jersey Superior Court against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick for what’s being called a ‘sex ring’. The lawsuit is being brought by one of the survivors, who chose to remain anonymous, but is referenced as “Doe 14” in court documents. The complaint alleges Doe… click to read more
• Multiple Clergy Abuse Lawsuits Filed against the Diocese of Ogdensburg New York September 24, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse The Diocese of Ogdensburg was named in 20 lawsuits claiming clergy sexual abuse. Of those 20 filings, 7 new clergy members have been publicly identified for the first time. According to the Diocese of Ogdensburg website, since August 2019, 71 clergy sexual abuse lawsuits have been filed against the Diocese. click to read more
• Over $800k Awarded to British Columbia Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivor September 22, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse A British Columbia Supreme Court judge awarded clergy abuse survivor Rosemary Anderson $844,140 on August 25th, 2020 at the conclusion of her case. After the passing of her father in 1976, Rosemary Anderson sought out the Roman Catholic church for comfort. She was only 26. It was during that time… click to read more
• Rhode Island Passes Law Helping Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors September 21, 2020 Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits On August 9, 2019, Governor Gina M. Raimondo held a ceremony, signing into law a new childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations reform. The reform gives victims of childhood sexual abuse a major victory, which will allow more survivors, particularly those who are older, the ability to hold their abusers… click to read more
• Philadelphia Inquirer Investigates Additional Sexual Assault Claims Against Devereux Behavioral Health September 16, 2020 Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is again under fire after The Philadelphia Inquirer article highlighted the disturbing behavior and cultural patterns within the Devereux company which perpetuated multiple sexual abuse allegations and lawsuits. click to read more
• Delay in California Clergy Abuse Trial Due to Coronavirus September 16, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse In a July ruling, a California judge has delayed a court case involving the sexual abuse of two undisclosed plaintiffs, John R.R. Doe and John R.F. Doe. The cases will not proceed as scheduled in October, but instead will be rescheduled for March 2021. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David… click to read more
• Catholic Diocese of Oakland Named In Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit September 2, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse The attorney for ‘John Doe’, a sexual abuser survivor who wished to keep his identity concealed, file a complaint at the Alameda County Superior Court against the Diocese of Oakland, St. John’s Catholic Church in San Lorenzo, and Corpus Christi Church in Fremont, accusing them of negligence in protecting children… click to read more
• Feeney Law Firm Client Files Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Defrocked Cardinal McCarrick August 28, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse A former altar boy has filed a lawsuit against defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and the Diocese of Metuchen. Geoffrey Downs, who is represented by Derek Braslow and the Feeney Law Firm, is accusing McCarrick of sexually abusing him as a teenager prior to mass. click to read more
• Diocese of Syracuse Files for Bankruptcy Amid Growing Sexual Abuse Lawsuits August 21, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse In June, the Diocese of Syracuse filed a petition for reorganization through Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In a June 19, 2020 letter, Bishop Douglas J. Lucia noted he had authorized the filing and the case would be before the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District… click to read more
• Diocese of Albany Hit with Multiple Clergy Abuse Lawsuits August 13, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse The Diocese of Albany will soon have to review more than 50 new clergy sexual abuse allegations dating back 60 years. New York’s Child Victims Act, which was extended, has paved the way for survivors of childhood clergy abuse in New York to hold New York’s Catholic Dioceses accountable. click to read more
• Servants of Paraclete in New Mexico Plagued with Long History of Pedophile Priests August 11, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse The Servants of Paraclete has asked a New Mexico court to dismiss a lawsuit involving David Holley and child molestation. The response states “the complaint fails to state claims, in whole or in part, upon which relieve can be granted as a matter of law”. While the merits of this… click to read more
• Allegations of Sexual Abuse Against Bishop Weldon Deemed ‘Credible’ August 10, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse In June 2020, retired Judge Peter Velis, alongside the Archbishop of the Springfield Diocese, Mitchell T. Rozanski, released a report outlining the investigation of sexual abuse claims against the late Bishop Christopher Weldon, a well-known Springfield Diocese bishop. The report deemed the allegations against Weldon to be ‘credible’. Weldon served… click to read more
• Clergy Sex Abuse Cover-up Sparks Lawsuit Against Diocese of Erie July 30, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse A lawsuit was filed in early July of this year against the Diocese of Erie, alleging fraudulent concealment. A woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, referred to here as ‘Jane Doe’, has alleged that she was molested by Rev. Michael G. Barletta in the 1970s. At the center of… click to read more
• New Jersey Extended the Civil Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse Claims July 29, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse On May 13, 2019, the Governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, signed S477 which extended the statute of limitations in civil actions for sexual abuse claims. The Act extends the ability of a child victim to file a lawsuit claim until they reach 55 years old, or 7 years from… click to read more
• US Catholic Bishops’ Report Shows Clergy Sex Abuse Claims Tripled in 2019 July 28, 2020 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse In June 2020, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released the “Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People”. This independent audit started in 2002 and has been updated several times since then. The findings noted covers July 1, 2018 to… click to read more