August 23, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
It’s been 20 years since the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People”, which called for zero tolerance for priests who sexually abuse children. Jesuit Father Jerry McGlone is concerned about the psychological effects the anniversary could have on survivors. McGlone has a keen insight into […]
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Louisiana State Appeals Court Upholds Constitutionality of Revival Window
March 14, 2024 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
The Louisiana state appeals court upheld the constitutionality of Louisiana’s three-year revival window law , which was enacted in . . .
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Archdiocese of Baltimore Files for Bankruptcy
March 14, 2024 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Just days before the Child Victims Act of 2023 was set to become law in Maryland, the Archdiocese of Baltimore filed for bankruptcy protection . . .
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Deadline for Archdiocese of San Francisco Survivors Approaching Quickly
February 13, 2024 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California has set a deadline of February 20, 2024, for sexual abuse survivors to file claims against the Archdiocese of San Francisco . . .
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Archdiocese of San Francisco Files for Chapter 11 Protection
February 13, 2024 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In a statement released at the end of August 2023, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said the Archdiocese of San Francisco has filed for bankruptcy . . .
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New Maryland Law Opens Permanent Revival Window
February 13, 2024 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In April, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed the Child Victims Act of 2023 into law. The new law removes the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse by opening up a permanent revival window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse . . .
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AG Report Shows Nearly 2,000 Children Abused by Clergy in Illinois
July 20, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Illinois attorney general’s office conducted a five-year investigation into the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy within the state. The result of the investigation is a 700-page report …
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Diocese of Oakland Files for Bankruptcy
May 25, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Earlier this month, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland issued a press release stating that the Diocese of Oakland would be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The release cites the more than 330 lawsuits …
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Judge Recuses Himself from Overseeing New Orleans Archdiocese Bankruptcy Proceedings
May 23, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In May of 2020, the Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for bankruptcy protection after 400-plus clergy sexual abuse lawsuits were filed against it. The sheer number of lawsuits is staggering …
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Redacted Names Lead to Frustration with Baltimore Archdiocese
May 11, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse, Default Category
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office released its long-awaited report into clergy sexual abuse of children within the Archdiocese of Baltimore in early April. The report details 80 years of clergy sexual abuse of more than 600 children within the archdiocese. It also describes the archdiocese’s knowledge concerning clergy abuse and its attempts to cover-up what […]
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Attorney General Report Shows Prosecutors Allowed Church to Hide Abusive Clergy
May 10, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Father William Q. Simms was one of many clergy members named as an abuser in the Maryland Attorney General’s report on child sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore
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Hadden Survivors Reached $235 Million Settlement with Hospitals; Still Time for Others
May 10, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In 2022, both Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital reached a combined $165 million settlement with almost 150 women who were sexually abused by former OBGYN Robert Hadden
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Lawsuit accuses San Diego Diocese of Fraudulently Transferring Assets
April 27, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A lawsuit was filed against the Diocese of San Diego less than two weeks after the diocese said it was contemplating filing for bankruptcy protection. The suit accuses the diocese of fraudulently transferring assets in order to avoid paying large settlements to survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
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San Diego Diocese Considering Bankruptcy, Church Blames Clergy Sex Abuse Claims
April 13, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego recently stated it may choose to file for bankruptcy in the coming months; blaming the number of clergy sexual abuse cases filed against it.
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Former OBGYN Robert Hadden Served No Jail Time Despite Guilty Plea in 2016
April 12, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In 2015, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office prosecuted Robert Hadden, an OBGYN accused of sexually abusing several patients.
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Disgraced OBGYN Robert Hadden Convicted, Civil Remedy for Victims Still Possible
April 12, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In late January of this year, a jury took less than a day to convict former Columbia University OBGYN Robert Hadden of federal sex trafficking charges.
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Victims of former OBGYN, Robert Hadden, Can Still Have Their Day in Court
March 30, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In January of this year, several ex-patients testified at former Columbia University OBGYN Robert Hadden’s criminal trial where he was charged with persuading women to cross state lines for the purpose of sexually abusing them.
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Maryland Senate Passes Legislation that would remove SOL for Child Abuse Victims
March 28, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Child Victims Act of 2023 (also known as House Bill 1) overwhelmingly passed in the Maryland Senate by a 42-5 margin.
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Worcester Diocese Declines to Name Abusive Priests in Report
February 10, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Worcester recently released a new report about clergy sexual abuse of minors between 1950 and 2022. However, that report failed to include the names of the priests . . .
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Maine Diocese Challenges Law Removing Statue of Limitations
February 2, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Portland is challenging the constitutionality of the new law and trying to get the lawsuits dismissed . . .
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Bill Seeking to Remove Statute of Limitations is Gaining Momentum in Maryland
January 26, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Maryland clergy sex abuse survivors are hoping for justice with new legislation on the horizon . . .
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Revival Window Bill Moving Through State Senate in Pennsylvania
January 25, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
New House Speaker Mark Rozzi recently vowed that no other legislation would be taken up until the Senate approved a constitutional amendment allowing child sex abuse victims to file claims . . .
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Diocese of Columbus Adds Priest to Credibly Accused List
January 24, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Columbus added Rev. Dean A. Mathewson to its list of priests credibly accused of child sexual abuse . . .
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Archdiocese of Santa Fe Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan Filed with Court
December 13, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has finally filed its bankruptcy reorganization plan four years after filing for Chapter 11 protection . . .
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Maryland AG Investigation Reports Over 600 Victims of Clergy Abuse
December 8, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh’s office finally produced a report over three years after his office first announced it would begin investigating clergy sex abuse . . .
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Survivors Deliver List of Over 300 Abusive Priests to Archbishop
November 3, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), as well as other survivors of clergy sexual abuse , delivered a list of 312 clergy and lay people publicly accused of sexual abuse . . .
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Bankruptcy Judge Says ‘No’ to Paying Accused Priests
November 1, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill has ordered the Archdiocese of New Orleans to stop paying retirement benefits to five priests who have been accused of sexually abusing minors . . .
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Revival Windows Don’t Bring Justice for Every Survivor
November 1, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Clergy sexual abuse survivor Robert Kapal is out of legal options to file a civil claim against his abuser and the organization which allowed him to be sexually abused . . .
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Former New Bedford Priest Sued for Sexual Abuse
September 29, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse, Default Category
Former altar boy Jason Medeiros filed a lawsuit claiming that Rev. Richard Degagne sexually abused him on multiple occasions . . .
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Albany Abuse Survivor Encourages Transparency from Diocese
September 21, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In a lawsuit filed against the Diocese of Albany and former priest Mark Haight, clergy sex abuse survivor . . .
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Maryland Clergy Abuse Survivors Frustrated with Attorney General
September 20, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Three years after Maryland’s Attorney General, Brian Frosh, announced he was beginning an investigation into Catholic Church clergy sex abuse, survivors are still waiting to see results . . .
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Albany Diocese Seeks to Pause Litigation with Sexual Abuse Survivors
September 16, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Attorneys for more than 400 clergy sexual abuse survivors in Albany, New York, denied the diocese’s request to pause litigation . . .
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Massachusetts’ High Court Says Clergy Abuse Suit Accusing Former Bishop Can Move Forward
September 16, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the highest court in the commonwealth, upheld a lower court’s ruling which will allow a clergy sexual abuse claim to move forward . . .
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FBI Opens Investigation into Catholic Church in New Orleans
August 25, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The FBI has opened an investigation into the Catholic Church in New Orleans regarding allegations of sexual abuse of children going back decades.
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Priest Believes Church Still Needs to Apologize for Sexual Abuse Scandal
August 23, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
It’s been 20 years since the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People”, which called for zero tolerance for priests who sexually abuse children. Jesuit Father Jerry McGlone is concerned about the psychological effects the anniversary could have on survivors. McGlone has a keen insight into […]
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First Lawsuits Filed Against Portland Diocese Since Law Change
August 16, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In July 2021, Governor Janet Mills signed a bill into law which eliminated Maine’s statute of limitations laws for child sexual abuse. A year later, the first child sexual abuse lawsuits to take advantage of the new law were filed against the Diocese of Portland.
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New Phoenix Bishop Aims for Transparency with Sex Abuse Investigations
August 16, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
John P. Dolan, the new bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, said the diocese will attempt to be transparent when it comes to investigations of clergy sex abuse.
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Wisconsin Clergy Abuse Survivors Say AG Not Following Through on Promise to Investigate
July 8, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A year ago, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said he would investigate the state’s Catholic dioceses regarding clergy sexual abuse of children. A year later, unlike the successful Pennsylvania Attorney General investigation, clergy sexual abuse survivors in Wisconsin are claiming Kaul’s office has failed them.
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Archdiocese of Philadelphia has Paid Over $78 Million to Clergy Abuse Survivors
July 8, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Three and a half years ago, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia set up the Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program (IRRP). A final report released by the IRRP showed that the archdiocese paid out $78 million . . .
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Ruling Allows Rochester Abuse Survivors to Sue Diocese
June 23, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A ruling by a federal bankruptcy judge will allow clergy sexual abuse survivors to move forward with lawsuits against the Diocese of Rochester.
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NY Governor Signs Adult Survivors Act into Law
June 17, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed into law the Adult Survivors Act. Similar to the state’s 2019 Child Victims Act, the law opens up a one-year revival window for adult survivors of sexual assault.
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Clergy Sex Abuse Survivor Asking Ohio Lawmakers to Update Statute of Limitations Laws
June 15, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Neyer is seeking more accountability from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, as well as asking lawmakers to reform the state’s current child sex abuse statute of limitations laws.
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Providence Diocese Accused of Victim Blaming in Lawsuit
June 2, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A recently filed lawsuit by a clergy sexual abuse survivor accuses the leaders of the Rhode Island Catholic Church of “victim blaming” and ignoring multiple allegations of sexual abuse of children by clergy.
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Nebraska Lawmaker’s Death May Halt Child Sex Abuse SOL Reform Bill
June 2, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In late 2021, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson’s office released the results of its investigation into clergy sex abuse and the Catholic dioceses in the state.
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New Mexico Diocese Announces $121.5 Million Settlement
May 27, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe, one of the oldest dioceses in the United States, announced it had reached a settlement agreement with survivors of clergy sexual abuse in order to resolve its bankruptcy protection filing.
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Diocese of Albany Adds Priest to Credibly Accused List
May 26, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Albany recently added retired priest Father Gregory Weider for “reasonable cause” to its list of priests credibly accused of sexual abuse.
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Investigation Finds Southern Baptist Leaders Covered Up Sex Abuse Claims
May 25, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Religious Institutions Sexual Abuse & Assault
A third-party investigation, done at the request of Southern Baptists, found that for almost twenty years, leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention were ignoring claims regarding a sexual abuse epidemic within the community.
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Archdiocese of Chicago Settles Abuse Claim for $1.2 Million
May 24, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Abuse Claim Against Defrocked Priest Settled for $1.2 Million
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Louisiana Opens Revival Window
May 17, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Louisiana opened a three-year revival window which gives sexual abuse survivors with expired civil claims the ability to file them.
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Over 800 Sex Abuse Lawsuits Filed in New Jersey Since Revival Window Opened
January 12, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Since December 1, 2019, when New Jersey opened a two-year revival window for victims of sexual abuse, 820 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse against clerics, teachers, and nuns have been filed against Catholic dioceses and orders.
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Sex Abuse SOL Reform Law Takes Effect Mid-October in Maine
October 19, 2021 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Maine sexual abuse survivor Robert Dupuis was only 12 years old in 1961 when Rev. John J. Curran began sexually abusing him.
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