Clergy Abuse Attorneys 

The Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report

In August 2018 the nation renewed its attention on the decades-long problem of clergy sex abuse.  The Pennsylvania grand jury report revealed that a shocking number of priest abuse cases went unreported by the church.  The Pennsylvania grand jury, which convened for two years, concluded that at least 300 priests had sexually abused more than 1,000 children and underage young people in a period spanning six decades.

Pennsylvania Priests Abused 1,000+ Kids

A Pennsylvania grand jury report released in August 2018 has focused the nation’s attention anew on the Catholic church’s systemic problem of sex abuse by parish priests. The jury had convened for two years.  It examined half a million pages of church documents and interviewed dozens of people who reported being abused by priests.  The jury concluded that 300 Pennsylvania priests abused more than 1,000 kids dating back to the 1940s. The grand jury said the real number of child victims is more likely in the thousands.  The jury also lamented that the statute of limitations has apparently tolled for most of the priests’ victims; but recent court developments across the U.S. may allow many priest-abused people in Pennsylvania and other states to finally have their day to seek justice in court.

Pennsylvania may follow Minnesota and other states in allowing clergy abuse victims a new grace period in which to file their claims.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court

The Pennsylvania legislature is considering a change of law similar to what Minnesota and other states have enacted to allow victims of priest abuse and other child sex abuse a longer grace period in which to file their claims.  Many states have begun to recognize that victims of child sex abuse often deny their own victimization, even for decades.  Child sex abuse victims often do all they can to bury the horrors visited upon them by priests and other trusted elders.  Consequently, it may take a victim decades to reach the point of being able to file a claim.

$210 Million Settlement for 450 Clergy Abuse Victims

NPR reported on June 1, 2018 that the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis reached a $210 million settlement agreement with 450 victims of clergy sexual abuse.

AP reports that the $210,290,724 total is thought to be the second-largest payout by the Catholic church in the U.S.  It came after nearly four years of bankruptcy proceedings and negotiations.

Archbishop Apologizes

Archbishop Bernard Hebda told priest-abuse survivors at a news conference:

“I recognize that the abuse stole so much from you. Your childhood, your safety, your ability to trust and in many cases your faith. Relationships with family and friend relationships in your parishes and communities were harmed. Lives were forever changed. The church let you down. I am very sorry.”

The victims’ lawyer said, “As a result of these survivor’s courage, there have been 91 clerical offenders in the archdiocese now exposed and listed as credibly accused offenders that had never been listed and exposed before.”