September 4, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In August 2019, New York legislature enacted a new law that gave survivors of childhood sexual abuse a one-year window to file a lawsuit against their abusers. Already, over 500 cases have been filed with the state and experts estimate that thousands of lawsuits are on the way. Advocates, including attorneys, for the victims believe that justice is needed in the form of being heard by the public, recognition of the abuse, and financial compensation. Melissa Breger, a professor at the Albany (NY) Law School, agrees, “I think for a lot of these folks, it’s validation that, ‘Yes, what happened to me was wrong and the fact that I was a child and could not do anything about it is being understood now and I can now seek redress as an adult.” Ms. Breger also previously worked with domestic violence victims and victims of childhood abuse.
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Allegations of Sexual Abuse Against Bishop Weldon Deemed ‘Credible’
August 10, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / 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 the Diocese of Springfield from 1950-1977 as bishop and passed away in 1982.
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Clergy Sex Abuse Cover-up Sparks Lawsuit Against Diocese of Erie
July 30, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / 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 the lawsuit is her claim that the Erie Diocese not only covered-up previous allegations against Rev. Barletta, but, more disturbingly, let him remain in active ministry which allowed him the access to later molest her. Her lawsuit explains that she had no idea of the Erie Diocese’s history of protecting child predators until the statewide grand jury report was released in 2018
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New Jersey Extended the Civil Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse Claims
July 29, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / 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 the date they became aware of the abuse, whichever is later. This is a significant step forward.
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US Catholic Bishops’ Report Shows Clergy Sex Abuse Claims Tripled in 2019
July 28, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / 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 June 30, 2019. The Catholic Church will say it has made strides to curb clergy abuse, but it also recognizes it has a long way to go.
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Billions of Dollars Hidden by Catholic Church
July 27, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Not only has the Catholic Church been forced to deal with a very public child sex abuse problem, but their past sins are now manifesting into growing financial concerns as the Church struggles to provide restitution to those it wronged.
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Diocese of Trenton Facing Multiple Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
July 14, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Trenton is facing at least 10 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse; all filed by the same attorney. Over the almost last two decades since the Boston Globe expose in 2002, the public has become more aware of the Roman Catholic Church’s ongoing cover-up of child abuse. What the Diocese of Trenton is facing is the increased pressure from state officials , state office, and plaintiff attorneys seeking accountability and justice.
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Former New Jersey Priest Accused A Second Time of Sexual Abuse
July 13, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is defending himself again against a second allegation of sexual abuse while serving in the Archdiocese of Newark. The first accusation came in 2019. Mark Matzek, a then 56-year-old man, accused DiMarzio and a second priest, Rev. Albert Mark (deceased) of repeated abuse while he was an altar boy at St. Nicholas Church and a student at St. Nicholas School. The second accusation of abuse was made by Samier Tadros, 46. On March 9, the Associated Press reported that Tadros’s attorney notified the Newark Archdiocese’s attorneys of the accusation. Samier Tadros claims he was sexually abused repeatedly at Holy Rosary Church in Jersey City when he was 6 years old.
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Rhode Island’s Attorney General Defends Updated Sex Abuse Law
July 10, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Rhode Island’s Attorney General, Peter Neronha, and his office are entering the legal arena on a civil case between three men, Philip Edwardo, Peter Cummings and Robert Houllahan, who are claiming they were sexually abused by priests within the Diocese of Providence.
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Diocese of Providence Challenges Rhode Island’s New Sexual Abuse Law
July 6, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In May of 2019 The Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to extend the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual abuse. Jim Scanlan, who is a sexual abuse survivor, noted “This was about protecting future generations of kids, as well as enabling survivors who haven’t come forward or are trying to come forward to have a voice.”
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Lawsuit in New Mexico Alleges Pedophile Priest was Transferred to other Parishes where Abuse Continued
July 6, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A lawsuit, filed by a ‘John Doe’ in order to protect the victim’s identity, was filed in Bernalillo County, New Mexico against two Alamogordo parishes, as well as dioceses within the states of New Mexico and Massachusetts. The lawsuit alleges the victim was sexually abused by a former priest, Rev. David Holley, and that the diocese and parishes included in the lawsuit are partly responsible because they allowed a known predator to prey on young children.
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Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Touts Victory for Survivors of Sexual Abuse
July 1, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Over the last couple of years Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Josh Shapiro and his office has been very busy, especially when it comes to protecting survivors of sexual abuse.
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87 People Claim Sexual Abuse by Colorado Diocese Priests
June 30, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In October of 2019 an Independent Compensation Program (ICP) in Colorado was finalized allowing those sexually abused as minors by clergy in the Dioceses of Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo the ability to file claims. The unveiling of the program coincided with the Attorney General of Colorado releasing the names 43 priests accused of sexual abuse within the Catholic Dioceses of Colorado.
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Charlotte Dioceses Sued for Negligence; Claims Alleged Church Should have Known Priests were Predators
June 26, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Last November, North Carolina legislators opened a 2-year ‘revival window’ allowing survivors of sexual abuse, whose claims were previously time barred, the ability to file a claim against their abusers. The new window has allowed two men, who remain anonymous, the ability to refile their claims after their original cases were dismissed in 2014. At that time, the diocese successfully argued that the claims were past their statute of limitations.
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Priest Abuse Case Against Archdiocese of Los Angeles Settled for $1.9 million
June 24, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Catholic priest Lawrence Lovell, or ‘Father Larry”, was at the center of a priest sex abuse case filed against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Claretian Missionaries which resulted in a $1.9 million dollar settlement. The victim, Richard Barrios, said the sexual abuse occurred from 1982-1984 when he was an altar boy at San Gabriel Mission Church.
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Los Angeles Archdiocese Being Sued for Sexual Abuse by Adult Man
June 11, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A new law passed in the state of California provides victims with a window to file claims of childhood sexual abuse that were previously time barred. One man is taking advantage of that law and in February of 2020, filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Archdiocese. The victim alleges that Father Michael Baker sexually abused him repeatedly from age 6 to 10 years old and that the Cardinal at the time, Roger Mahoney, covered it up. The plaintiff’s attorney, John Manly, stated that the Cardinal tried to hide what was going on with Father Baker by transferring him to other parishes rather than reporting the criminal behavior to the police.
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Archdiocese of Chicago Settles Clergy Sex Abuse Claim for $8 million
June 3, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In an out of court settlement, the Archdiocese of Chicago agreed to pay $8 million to settle a claim alleging sexual abuse of minor. The settlement stemmed from allegations of sexual abuse in the 1990’s between Rev. John Calicott and an undisclosed victim. At the survivor’s request, his identity was not made public. The accused priest of the Holy Angels Church, Rev. John Calicott, denied the allegations and sought the name of his accuser. His request was denied.
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North Carolina Diocese publishes list of credibly accused clergy
May 21, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
North Carolina diocese publishes list of credibly accused clergy. The hired independent investigators to review files of over 1600 church personnel which began over a year prior to the release.
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School Priest Suspended in Iowa for Sexual Abuse
May 19, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
An investigation is underway by the Diocese of Des Moines regarding allegations of sexual misconduct by Father Robert L Grant better known as “Father Bud” by a student at the St Alberts High School in Council Bluffs. The alleged abuse took place back in the early 1990’s. Due to Iowa law, criminal actions cannot be taken because of Iowa’s statute of limitation which requires a victim to report the abuse within 10 – 15 years after the individual turns 18 (depending on the circumstances.)
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Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits – Delays Expected in Buffalo
May 18, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Victims of clergy sexual abuse with cases against the Diocese of Buffalo should expect delays in compensation awards. In a January ruling by Judge Deborah A. Chimes, Supreme Court of Erie Country, she noted the particular victim (plaintiff) should receive damages for abuse suffered. However there is a catch causing a delay in getting compensation from the Diocese of Buffalo. The Diocese of Buffalo filed for bankruptcy. This filing effectively paused all lawsuits and legal proceedings against the dioceses.
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Buffalo Diocese Becomes 2nd New York Diocese to File for Bankruptcy
May 13, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In February of 2020, the Diocese of Buffalo became the second Diocese in New York state to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, after the first filing by the Diocese of Rochester in September of 2019. The church sites the new law passed by New York state’s legislators, dubbed the Child Victims Act, as the reason for bankruptcy filings.
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New York’s Child Victims Act Extended Due To Coronavirus
May 12, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Senators from New York gathered on Friday to discuss extending the time for victims to file a claim for sexual abuse. The original deadline was set to expire on August 14, 2020 but now, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo, legislators have agreed to extend it to January 14, 2021; giving survivors of childhood sexual abuse an additional five months to file a claim. The senate felt that since court services have been significantly reduced due to the virus, it was only fair to extend the time for these victims.
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Attorney General’s Report Sparks Mixed Feelings in Those Who Were Sexually Abused as Children by Catholic Priests
May 12, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Colorado Attorney General’s investigation into child sex abuse within the Catholic Dioceses of Colorado led to a report listing 43 priests accused of sexually abusing children. One priest in particular, Monsignor Lawrence St. Peter, is suspected to have used his access, given his high ranking, to destroy his own personnel files which likely contained a pattern of sexual abuse against minors. According to the report which cited “strong circumstantial evidence” that those who came in contact with St. Peter during his time in Denver knew of his ‘alcohol problems’ and ‘homosexuality problems’ yet there were no records reflecting those issues in the Denver Archdiocese file.
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Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report Released for Abused Survivors of the Catholic Church
May 5, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
It has been over a year since a Pennsylvania grand jury released the names of 300 Pennsylvania priests accused of sexual abuse. Releasing those names may have helped garner some much-needed momentum for both victims and lawmakers.
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Arizona Law Extends Deadline for Filing Sexual Abuse Cases
May 5, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
An Arizona state law opening a window for those whose sexual abuse claims may have been time barred has been extended to the end of this year. Two victims who claim they were abused by Catholic priests over 40 years ago used this law to file lawsuits against their church and the Diocese of Phoenix.
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Truth and Reconciliation Commission Proposed to Archdiocese of Seattle
April 27, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A group of “concerned Catholics, abuse survivors and current and former clergy” are calling for a lay-led Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate the sexual abuse crisis in the church. Even though the group has acknowledged that the investigation may re-open the wounds of those who have been personally affected, the group’s goal is to rebuild the trust that has been lost throughout the decades of abuse.
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DC Councilman Decides Not to Run for Re-Election Due to Sexual Abuse
April 17, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced in March that his office filed and indictment against former Catholic priest, Scott Asalone, 63. Asalone is accused of sexually abusing D.C. council member David Grosso back in 1985 when Grosso only 14 years old. Due to the emotional scars that reopened because of the investigation and indictment, Grosso has chosen not to run for re-election.
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New Jersey Lawsuit Claims Allentown Diocese Covered Up 30 Years of Sexual Abuse
April 17, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A lawsuit filed in New Jersey by a former Diocese of Allentown altar boy claims that the diocese failed to protect him as he was sexually abused for decades. The $50 million suit contends diocese officials turned their backs on the victim and failed to protect him from the abuse even after knowing his abuser was a pedophile.
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Priest Convicted of Rape Dies in Prison
April 16, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Reverend Richard McCormick, who was convicted in 2014 of raping two young boys, passed away at Bridgewater State Treatment Center. He was 79 years old. Due to privacy laws, the cause of death has not been released, but the Department of Corrections for Bridgewater State has confirmed that at least three deaths there have been linked to an outbreak of COVID-19.
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Bishops Cover Up in the Diocese of Scranton
April 13, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A lawsuit has been brought against Bishop James Timlin and Bishop Joseph Bambera for their part in covering up years of alleged sexual abuse by priests in the Diocese of Scranton. After years of thinking it was “too late” to do anything about their abuse, four men have come forward and accused Father Michael Pulicare, the former assistant pastor of St Joseph’s Parish, of sexual abuse. Pulicare died in 1999 and the church was renamed Divine Mercy of St Joseph, which is located on Davis St in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Each man filed their own separate lawsuit.
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Columbus Diocese adds 8 names to priest sex-abuse list
April 10, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In September of 2019 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus Ohio added the names of eight priests who have been “credibly accused” of sexual abuse of minors to their published list. The majority of the eight names added to the list are in the category of “extern” which covers clergy members who served in Columbus but were accused of abuse elsewhere.
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Lawsuit Filed Against Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Erie County
April 9, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A childhood victim of priest sex abuse at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church and Holy Trinity School filed a civil lawsuit in Erie County Supreme Court of New York. This New York Catholic Church lawsuit, filed in September of 2019, was filed against the Diocese of Buffalo and claims Monsignor Valerio Bernardo, a pastor of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church and Holy Trinity School, abused the plaintiff during the late 1960s when she was about five years old. The plaintiff and her family were parishioners at Holy Trinity Church and she was a student at Holy Trinity School.
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Lawsuit Filed by Six Women Against the Diocese of Austin Texas
April 8, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Father Isidore Ndagizimana, better known as Father Izzy, of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Austin, Texas, has been accused of sexually abusing 6 female parishioners. The six women, whose names have been left anonymous, claim Father Ndagizimana would touch them inappropriately in the confessional box at church and tried kissing them. Also, while their husbands were away he would often show up at their homes uninvited.
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Harrisburg Catholic Diocese Attempts to Reduce Sex Abuse Lawsuit Payouts with Bankruptcy Filing
March 10, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Harrisburg Catholic Diocese has recently declared bankruptcy as a result of ongoing and mounting Catholic Church sexual abuse claims. The diocese has already paid out nearly $13 million to 111 victims of childhood sexual abuse and church officials believe there may be more than 200 additional victims who could seek compensation through the bankruptcy proceedings.
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California Catholic Church Settlement Fund Created
November 15, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Six California Catholic Diocese including: Diocese of Fresno, Diocese of Orange, Diocese of Sacramento, Diocese of San Bernardino, Diocese of San Diego, and Los Angeles Archdiocese have recently unveiled a new sexual abuse settlement program for victims of childhood priest molestation in the Catholic Church. Details of the California Catholic Church Settlement fund allow for victims to file a claim without having to directly sue the Catholic Church in court but the deadline is and provide a deadline of January 31, 2020. Typically to file a lawsuit victims would be governed by California’s Statute of limitation laws.
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Accused Priest List Released by Archdioceses of Burlington (Vermont)
November 4, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In August of 2019, Bishop Christopher Coyne, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, released a list of 40 priests accused of child sexual abuse. The abuse allegations were deemed credible by a committee appointed by Bishop Coyne, which consisted of seven lay members, four men and three women. One member was a non-catholic and one, John Mahoney, a sixty-five-year-old man from Burlington, Vermont, was a priest abuse survivor himself who settled with the church many years prior. It took the committee nine months to read through more than 50 personnel files belonging to the 40 priests. The committee used the guidelines set forward by the Catholic Archdiocese of Syracuse, New York to help them navigate through all of the documents and information.
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Other States Offer Glimpse of Ways NY’s Abuse Cases Could Play Out
September 4, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In August 2019, New York legislature enacted a new law that gave survivors of childhood sexual abuse a one-year window to file a lawsuit against their abusers. Already, over 500 cases have been filed with the state and experts estimate that thousands of lawsuits are on the way. Advocates, including attorneys, for the victims believe that justice is needed in the form of being heard by the public, recognition of the abuse, and financial compensation. Melissa Breger, a professor at the Albany (NY) Law School, agrees, “I think for a lot of these folks, it’s validation that, ‘Yes, what happened to me was wrong and the fact that I was a child and could not do anything about it is being understood now and I can now seek redress as an adult.” Ms. Breger also previously worked with domestic violence victims and victims of childhood abuse.
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Catholic Priest Guilty of Sex Abuse in Washington, DC
September 3, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Rev. Urbano Vazquez, a Catholic priest from Shrine of the Sacred Heart Parish in Northwest Washington, D.C. has been convicted of four counts of child sexual abuse against two children. The abuse was committed from 2015-2017 and Father Vazquez was arrested in November 2018. He was on a list of Catholic priests credibly accused of priest molestation against children which was released shortly before his arrest in late 2018.
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Survivors of child sexual abuse gear up to file lawsuits against their abusers in New York
August 23, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
As of August 14, 2019 New York survivors of childhood sexual abuse will be given a one-year window to file a lawsuit against their abusers under the new Child Victims Act passed by NY legislature earlier this year. Thousands of cases are expected to be filed with payout estimates to victims in the millions of dollars. Under the new one-year window law, anyone who was abused is eligible to file a claim with a sexual abuse lawyer. Additionally, New York has gone from one of the worst states to one of the best states to file a childhood sexual abuse lawsuit.
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Catholic Church in N.H. Publishes Names of Priests Accused of Sex Abuse of Minors
August 22, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Catholic Diocese of Manchester, NH has created a website that shows a comprehensive list of priests that have been accused of Catholic Church sexual abuse. The website includes the names of priests both living and deceased dating back to incidents that occurred in the 1950s. As of August 2019, the Catholic Diocese of Manchester, NH has paid nearly $30 million to compensate victims who filed Catholic Church lawsuits.
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Catholic Church Offers Cash to Settle Abuse Claims – With a Catch
August 2, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In an effort to cut the total number and size of payouts made by the Catholic Church to its sexual abuse victims, and to hide key documents from the public, the Diocese of Scranton, PA and other dioceses in the US are offering child sexual abuse victims’ closed-door settlements. These settlement programs are run by third-party administrators outside of the church and offer ‘swift’ resolutions opposed to trials.
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Minnesota Catholic Diocese to Pay $34m to Victims of Clergy Abuse
July 17, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of New Ulm, Minnesota has agreed on a settlement to pay $34 million to at least 93 victims of sexual abuse. In conjunction with the monetary compensation for the sexually abused victims, the settlement was designed to advance the ‘children protection movement’ and to prevent sexual predators, specifically of the Catholic Church, from victimizing another generation.
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Providence Diocese Lists Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Children
July 15, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, RI has recently released the names of 50 priests and deacons who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children dating back to 1950. In the posting on their website, the diocese indicates that 19 of the 50 names are priests and deacons that are still alive, but nearly all of the accused have been removed from ministry.
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Group releases names of 109 clerics accused of sexual abuse in Diocese of Phoenix
July 10, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Catholic Church sexual abuse epidemic continues as the names of more than 100 clerics accused of abuse in the Phoenix Diocese were recently released to the public. According to the report filed, more than 50 of the names released have already passed away and another 25 priests’ whereabouts are unknown.
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Superior Court reinstates priest molestation lawsuit filed against Altoona-Johnstown Diocese
July 9, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A Pennsylvania Superior Court has recently reinstated an important lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, PA. The lawsuit claims that a woman was repeatedly molested by a pedophile priest in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The case was originally dismissed in December 2017 by a Blair County, PA Common Pleas Court due to an expiration of the statute of limitations (the time allowed to file a claim by law).
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The Catholic Church is Not Alone
June 26, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Nearly 20 years ago, The Boston Globe lifted the curtain on the Boston Archdiocese exposing their coordinated plan to help pedophile priests avoid detection from the public and the law. Sickening and self-serving, their plan allowed those same priests and clergy to continually sexually abuse hundreds of children in Massachusetts. And as time passed, it became clear that Boston and the state of Massachusetts were not the only areas housing sexual predators embedded in the Catholic Church.
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Woman can sue Catholic Church in Pa. over alleged priest abuse 40 years ago, court says
June 17, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
With an important victory for sexual abuse victims, a Pennsylvania court has recently ruled that a woman can pursue her lawsuit claiming clergy in the Altoona-Johnstown, PA Roman Catholic Diocese covered up her alleged molestation by a priest. The lawsuit was initially dismissed by a county judge in 2017 because the statute of limitations had expired. However, a three-judge Superior Court panel reinstated the woman’s lawsuit which claims that two bishops illegally tried to cover up her sexual abuse by a priest to protect their reputations. The ruling may allow more sexual abuse victims whose abuse occurred long ago, to file claims.
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Police seized 57 items from Saginaw Diocese during raid, including ‘victim list’
June 11, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Police in Saginaw, MI recently executed search warrants on three Catholic Diocese properties while investigating claims of sexual abuse done to minors by clergy. Public documents show that police seized nearly 60 items of evidence including what was found in the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet at the diocese headquarters, a file titled “victim list”. Additional items from seize included: computers, flash drives, expense accounts, internal memos, and the personal files of convicted sexual-abuser Rev. Robert J. DeLand Jr., three other priests, and one deacon.
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The U.S. Catholic Church spent more than $300M on abuse-related costs in 12 months
June 10, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
According to a recent report released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, from June 2017 to June 2018 the U.S. Catholic Church spent a whopping $301.6 million on clergy sexual abuse costs. Two-thirds of the clergy sexual abuse costs, or nearly $200 million, were spent on legal settlements. Additionally, the report revealed that during the same 12-month period, the Catholic Church fielded nearly 1,100 new “credible allegations” of sexual abuse committed on a minor by priests and other clergy.
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House panel OKs bill to extend statute of limitations for sex-abuse lawsuits
June 4, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee has voted by unanimous decision to give victims of childhood sexual abuse more time to sue their abusers and the institutions that shielded these criminal predators. This bill is a welcome relief for sexual abuse victims and their families. Jim Scanlan, a Rhode Island man whose account of sex abuse by a Boston College High School priest in the late 1970s that was highlighted in the Oscar-winning movie Spotlight had this to say during testimony, “This bill is important in that it allows a vehicle for more victims and survivors to come forward and really expose who the predators are, and partially to expose, those who protect them.”
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Buffalo Diocese pays $17.5M to 106 clergy sex abuse victims
June 3, 2019 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
106 childhood victims of Catholic Church sexual abuse in the Buffalo, NY area have been paid $17.5 million in compensation. The Buffalo, NY diocese has offered a total of 127 settlements with an average award of $158,622 to the sexual abuse victims. The largest settlement offer is $650,000 and due to increasing offers, the diocese’s total cost could end up north of $18 million. The trend is up. In January 2019, Buffalo News reported that the diocese had offered more than $8 million to nearly four dozen people, according to victims and lawyers. That total settlement amount has more than doubled in less than six months.
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