April 1, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
More than 230 sexual abuse lawsuits were filed against the five Catholic dioceses in New Jersey from December 2019 to December 2020. The large number of lawsuits directly coincides with the state’s extension of its statute of limitations laws in civil actions for sexual abuse claims as well as its opening of a revival window which allows time barred claims to be brought before a specific date. The New Jersey revival window is set to close on November 30, 2021. Since it can often take years before a sexual abuse survivor feels comfortable enough to talk about being abused, extending the statute of limitations and opening the revival window gives victims an opportunity to receive some justice for what was done to them.
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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 filed against the diocese alleging clergy sexual abuse as the reason for the bankruptcy. The Diocese of Oakland is not […]
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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. Unfortunately, the story of how Simms continued to have access to children, even after several allegations of sexual abuse, is not an aberration. The attorney general’s […]
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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. In 2019, California opened a 3-year revival window […]
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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. A letter from Bishop Robert McElroy to parishioners said the “staggering” legal costs of dealing with roughly 400 clergy sexual abuse lawsuits has put […]
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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. The bill, which had been gaining momentum since the new year, would eliminate the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. It would also be enacted retroactively, which means that survivors of childhood […]
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Diocese of Springfield Releases Updated Credibly Accused List
June 30, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Springfield recently released an updated list of church officials and employees who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse. Bishop William Byrne said the new list is part of his commitment to “transparency and healing.” There are 61 names on the list, 21 more than the previous version.
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Kansas Bureau of Investigation Opens over 100 Sexual Abuse Cases Against Dioceses
June 9, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Two years after launching an investigation into child sexual abuse claims against the state’s Catholic dioceses, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation has opened 120 cases and received 205 reports of clergy sexual abuse. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt requested the Bureau investigate reports of sexual abuse by clergy in the state as other Attorneys Generals have done in states around the country.
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Kansas Court of Appeals Rules Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Can Move Forward
June 2, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A ruling by the Kansas Court of Appeals holding that negligence claims against institutions are not barred by the statute of limitations will allow a sexual abuse lawsuit filed against the Archdiocese of Kansas City to move forward
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Diocese of Oakland Priest Accused of Raping Boy Decades Ago
May 28, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A recent lawsuit filed against the Diocese of Oakland accuses deceased priest Monsignor John T. McCracken of raping a young boy on multiple occasions between 1972 and 1974. It is the first time McCracken has been accused of sexual abuse of a child and his name is not on the Dioceses’ 2019 list of priests credibly accused of sexually abusing children.
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Wisconsin AG to Investigate State’s Catholic Dioceses
May 25, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul sent a letter to the state’s five Catholic dioceses notifying them that his office will begin an investigation into sexual abuse allegations against clergy and other faith leaders. In the letter, Kaul asked the dioceses to preserve any relevant documents or information regarding sexual abuse by clergy
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Tucson and Los Angeles Dioceses Accused of Violating Racketeering Laws
May 19, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Tucson and Los Angeles Dioceses have been accused of violating Arizona’s racketeering laws in a federal lawsuit filed at the end of 2020, which happens to coincide with the end of Arizona’s revival window. The lawsuit alleges the dioceses routinely buried allegations of priests sexually abusing children and would transfer those priests to different parishes instead of alerting law enforcement. A violation of Arizona’s racketeering law also means the state’s Attorney General could investigate the allegations as well.
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Leaked Transcript Uncovers Real Motive Behind NY’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program
April 30, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In 2016, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, leader of the Archdiocese of New York, introduced the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program as a way to compensate victims of clergy sex abuse, and according to the church, “promote healing” and “bring closure” to the sexual abuse crisis ailing the Catholic Church.
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Archdiocese of Seattle Reaches Sexual Abuse Settlements Totaling Over $2 Million
April 30, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In the last year, the Archdiocese of Seattle has agreed to settlements totaling over $2 million with victims who claim they were sexually abused by four members of the Archdiocese’s clergy.
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Academy at Mount Saint John in Deep River Facing 35 Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
April 29, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A sexual abuse lawsuit filed by Sam Garcia at the end of 2020 makes 35 lawsuits now filed against the Diocese of Norwich and former Bishop Daniel Reilly. All the plaintiffs are men who claim as boys they were sexually assaulted and raped by Christian Brother K. Paul McGlade while they attended Academy at Mount Saint John in Deep River during the 1990s. Garcia is the only plaintiff who identified himself by name.
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Diocese of Brooklyn Sued by Insurer Over Sex Abuse Claims
April 16, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Catholic Church’s past history of covering up childhood sexual abuse claims has led to another lawsuit being filed, this time by one of its insurers. Arrowood Indemnity Company, an insurance company that covers the Diocese of Brooklyn, has filed a lawsuit asking the court to rule that it not be held responsible for defending or indemnifying the Diocese against sexual abuse claims.
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Defrocked Charlotte Priest Faces New Sexual Abuse Claim
April 16, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Defrocked Charlotte Diocese priest Robert Yurgel is facing a new claim that he allegedly sexually abused a boy as young as five years old inside St. Matthews Church in Ballantyne. Yurgel has already served 8 years in prison for sexually abusing an altar boy back in 1999. The lawsuit has also named the Charlotte Diocese and the Capuchin Franciscan Friars.
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Pennsylvania Legislators Take Two-Track Approach to Open Revival Window for Child Sex Abuse Survivors
April 15, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
After a serious ‘blunder’ by Pennsylvania’s Department of State earlier this month, Pennsylvania legislators look to pass a new bill that would allow child sex abuse victims a two-year ‘window’ to file civil claims in court against both public and private entities.
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Catholic Church Spends $10M to Fight Statute of Limitations Reforms
April 14, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
According to a recently released report, nationwide the Catholic Church has spent more than $10 million on lobbyists over the last seven years, fighting to keep state statute of limitations reforms from going into effect. The report was commissioned by law firms who represent survivors of clergy sex abuse.
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Former Student Files Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Portsmouth Abbey School and Former Teacher
April 9, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In late 2020, a former student at the Portsmouth Abbey School in Rhode Island filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming her former school teacher sexually abused her when she was a student and the school “failed to take any measures to investigate and put an end to the misconduct and protect its young student.”
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Archdiocese of Chicago Agrees to Pay $1.5 Million to Settle Sex Abuse Claim
April 9, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Archdiocese of Chicago agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who claimed he was sexually abused as a child by defrocked priest Daniel McCormack back in the early 2000s. This Catholic Church settlement pushes the total to over $11 million paid to survivors who were abused by McCormack. Unfortunately, this is not the first time the Archdiocese of Chicago has had to pay out millions of dollars in order to settle a sexual abuse claim against one of its clergy.
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Pennsylvania Department of State Drops Ball on Constitutional Amendment
April 2, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
At the beginning of 2021, the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee overwhelmingly passed legislation focused on creating a revival window for child sexual abuse survivors. After passing the General Assembly in February, the bill should have been included on the May 2021 ballot so, if passed, the state’s constitution could be amended.
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Hundreds of Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Filed in 2020 Against Catholic Church in New Jersey
April 1, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
More than 230 sexual abuse lawsuits were filed against the five Catholic dioceses in New Jersey from December 2019 to December 2020. The large number of lawsuits directly coincides with the state’s extension of its statute of limitations laws in civil actions for sexual abuse claims as well as its opening of a revival window which allows time barred claims to be brought before a specific date. The New Jersey revival window is set to close on November 30, 2021. Since it can often take years before a sexual abuse survivor feels comfortable enough to talk about being abused, extending the statute of limitations and opening the revival window gives victims an opportunity to receive some justice for what was done to them.
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