People's Justice is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Do You Qualify?
Eligibility Checklist
- You experienced sexual abuse by a Catholic priest, deacon, bishop, brother, or other Church official
- The abuse occurred when you were a minor (under 18) in most states, or as an adult in some institutional settings
- You are filing within your state's lookback window, OR your state's standard statute of limitations has not expired, OR a diocesan bankruptcy claims process is active in your jurisdiction
- The diocese or other Catholic institution that employed the abuser was located in the United States
- You are the survivor of the abuse OR a family member filing on behalf of a deceased survivor
Do You Qualify? Take the Free Screening
Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations Checker
Find out if you may still be able to file a sexual abuse lawsuit in your state. This free, confidential tool takes about 2 minutes and provides a preliminary assessment based on your state's current laws. This is not legal advice — a free case review with an attorney is the best way to understand your options.
Takes about 2 minutes · 4 questions
Get Help Now
Catholic Church Abuse Lawsuit
Survivors of clergy abuse may have more time to file than they realize. Get a free, confidential evaluation today.
Get Your Free Case Reviewor call 1-800-555-0100
The Boston Globe Spotlight Investigation — Why 2002 Changed Everything
The Boston Globe's Spotlight team published its investigation of the Archdiocese of Boston's handling of Fr. John Geoghan in January 2002, exposing not just individual abuse by Geoghan but a systemic pattern of cover-up by Cardinal Bernard Law and diocesan leadership. Geoghan had been transferred between six parishes over 30 years despite repeated complaints of child sexual abuse, ultimately abusing more than 130 victims. The Spotlight investigation revealed that the Archdiocese had been receiving abuse complaints for decades and responding with transfers, reassignments to treatment programs, and settlements with victims conditioned on confidentiality agreements. Cardinal Law resigned in December 2002. The Archdiocese of Boston paid $85 million in settlements to 552 survivors in 2003.
The Spotlight investigation triggered cascading investigations in diocese after diocese across the United States and around the world. Grand juries in Pennsylvania (2018 — covering six dioceses and 300 priests over seven decades), Illinois, New Jersey, and other states produced detailed public reports documenting institutional cover-up. The John Jay College of Criminal Justice conducted two major studies of clergy sexual abuse in the U.S. Catholic Church commissioned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), estimating that 4 to 5 percent of priests active in the U.S. between 1950 and 2002 had allegations of sexual abuse of minors made against them — a total of approximately 4,392 priests and over 10,667 reported victims. Experts believe the true number of victims is substantially higher given the documented barriers to disclosure.
How Diocesan Bankruptcy Compensation Funds Work
When a diocese files Chapter 11, the bankruptcy court appoints a creditors' committee that typically includes abuse survivor representatives. A mediator is appointed to negotiate the terms of a reorganization plan between the diocese, its insurance carriers, and the survivor claimants. The plan establishes a trust fund — funded by contributions from the diocese, its insurers, and sometimes affiliated entities like religious orders or the Vatican — from which survivor claims are paid according to a point-based matrix that accounts for factors including the severity of the abuse, its duration, the age of the survivor at the time, the number of perpetrators, and the institutional response (i.e., whether the diocese had prior knowledge and failed to act). Survivors who file proofs of claim by the bar date are evaluated by a claims administrator, assigned a compensation tier, and paid from the trust. The process typically takes 2 to 5 years from filing to final distribution.
Catholic Church Abuse Settlement Tiers by Severity and Institution
Compensation amounts in Catholic clergy abuse cases vary based on the severity and duration of the abuse, the survivor's age at the time, the institutional setting, whether the claim is filed through direct litigation or a diocesan bankruptcy fund, and the specific diocese involved. The following tiers reflect outcomes documented across major diocesan settlements and individual case verdicts as of 2026.
Single Incident or Limited Abuse — Bankruptcy Fund Claim
ModerateSettlement Range
Criteria
- Abuse involved isolated or limited incidents (fewer than 5 events)
- Survivor was between ages 12 and 17 at the time
- No documented prior Church knowledge of the specific perpetrator
- Claim filed through diocesan bankruptcy compensation fund
- Medical or therapeutic documentation of harm available
Repeated or Sustained Abuse — Direct Litigation or Bankruptcy Fund
SeriousSettlement Range
Criteria
- Abuse was repeated over multiple months or years
- Survivor was under age 12, OR abuse occurred in a position of particular trust (confessional, counseling, retreat)
- Diocese had documented prior complaints about the perpetrator
- Documented psychological trauma including PTSD diagnosis
- Claim may proceed through bankruptcy fund or direct state court litigation under lookback window
Severe or Chronic Abuse with Documented Institutional Cover-Up
SevereSettlement Range
Criteria
- Abuse was chronic and severe over a period of years
- Evidence that diocesan leadership received complaints and transferred or protected the perpetrator
- Multiple forms of abuse including penetrative acts
- Significant documented psychological, vocational, and relational harm
- Direct civil litigation in state court under lookback window (not capped by bankruptcy fund matrix)
Catastrophic Harm — Wrongful Death, Suicide, or Severe Disability
CatastrophicSettlement Range
Criteria
- Survivor died by suicide with documented connection to abuse
- Survivor's abuse directly caused severe and permanent psychological disability
- Family members bringing wrongful death claim
- Full scope of institutional knowledge documented through discovery
- All compensatory and punitive damages sought in direct civil litigation
Settlement amounts are estimates based on documented diocesan settlements, jury verdicts, and bankruptcy fund distributions reported through February 2026. Diocesan bankruptcy fund distributions are capped by the total fund size and number of approved claims — individual payouts may be lower than these estimates if the fund is oversubscribed. Direct civil litigation in state court under lookback windows is not capped in the same way and can yield higher awards. Consult an attorney for a case-specific assessment.
Internal Documents & Evidence
Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report 2018
“Documented over 300 predator priests who abused more than 1,000 child victims across six Pennsylvania dioceses over 70 years, with detailed evidence of systematic cover-up by Church leadership who moved abusers rather than reporting them to law enforcement.”
Impact: Triggered nationwide calls for similar grand jury investigations, prompted multiple states to revive or eliminate statutes of limitations for clergy abuse claims, and led directly to criminal referrals and civil settlements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in Pennsylvania alone.
View Source DocumentJohn Jay Report 2004 — Nature and Scope of Sexual Abuse by Catholic Priests
“Identified 4,392 priests with credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors between 1950 and 2002, representing approximately 4% of all priests serving during that period. Documented over 10,667 victim reports and established that abuse was widespread across virtually every diocese in the United States.”
Impact: Provided the first comprehensive national accounting of clergy abuse, established a baseline for settlements and litigation strategy, and compelled the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to adopt the Dallas Charter requiring zero-tolerance policies. Cumulative U.S. settlements linked to this era have surpassed $3.3 billion.
View Source DocumentBoston Globe Spotlight Investigation — Cardinal Law Documents (2002)
“Internal archdiocesan files obtained through litigation showed Cardinal Bernard Law had explicit, documented knowledge of serial abuser Fr. John Geoghan's crimes and deliberately reassigned him to new parishes where he abused additional children. Files revealed a policy of protecting institutional reputation over victim safety that extended to dozens of accused priests.”
Impact: Catalyzed the modern clergy abuse crisis reckoning in the United States and internationally. Cardinal Law resigned in December 2002. The Archdiocese of Boston paid $85 million to settle claims from 552 victims. The investigation won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service and directly inspired legislative reform on SOL windows in multiple states.
View Source DocumentCalifornia Attorney General Statewide Diocese Report 2023
“Following years of litigation and legislative pressure, California's dioceses released internal personnel files identifying at least 1,150 credibly accused clergy members — far exceeding prior Church disclosures. Records confirmed that accused priests were routinely transferred across dioceses and state lines, obscuring their histories from parishioners and local law enforcement.”
Impact: Directly informed ongoing civil litigation made possible by California's expanded statute of limitations window (AB 218, 2019). Multiple dioceses entered bankruptcy proceedings or established victim compensation funds. The document release set a national precedent for court-compelled internal Church record disclosure.
View Source DocumentBishopAccountability.org Accused Clergy Database
“A publicly searchable database compiling credible accusations against Catholic clergy across all U.S. dioceses, drawing from official Church lists, court documents, grand jury reports, and investigative journalism. As of 2025, the database documents over 6,500 accused clergy members by name, diocese, and allegation status — far exceeding figures acknowledged by the Church itself.”
Impact: Provides attorneys, journalists, survivors, and researchers a centralized evidentiary reference used in civil litigation nationwide. Has enabled plaintiffs to identify patterns of inter-diocesan transfers, connect previously unknown victims to the same abuser, and corroborate individual claims with institutional records. Recognized by courts in multiple jurisdictions as a reliable secondary source.
View Source DocumentSurvivors of clergy abuse may have more time to file than they realize. Get a free, confidential evaluation today.
Get Your Free Case Reviewor call 1-800-555-0100
Notable Verdicts & Settlements
Archdiocese of Los Angeles Settlement — 508 Survivors
SettlementThe Archdiocese of Los Angeles reached a landmark $660 million settlement in July 2007 covering 508 survivors of clergy sexual abuse, the largest single clergy abuse settlement in history at the time. The average per-claimant amount was approximately $1.3 million. The settlement followed discovery proceedings that revealed Cardinal Roger Mahony and Archdiocese leadership had systematically transferred accused priests and shielded their records from investigators. The settlement fund was established jointly by the Archdiocese and its insurance carriers. Individual claimant amounts ranged from $1,000 to over $5 million based on severity of abuse, duration, and institutional knowledge factors.
Archdiocese of New Orleans Bankruptcy Settlement
SettlementThe Archdiocese of New Orleans, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2020, reached a $305 million settlement in early 2026 covering hundreds of survivor claims. The settlement fund was funded by the Archdiocese, its insurance carriers, and sales of Archdiocesan real property. The New Orleans Archdiocese had published a list of over 50 clergy members with credible abuse allegations. The settlement was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana and represents one of the largest single diocesan bankruptcy settlements in the current litigation wave.
Diocese of Rochester Bankruptcy Settlement
SettlementThe Diocese of Rochester, New York reached a $246 million settlement in July 2025 following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2019 in response to New York's Child Victims Act. The settlement covered claims from hundreds of survivors of abuse by Rochester diocesan clergy. The Diocese of Rochester's bankruptcy was among the first filed in response to the Child Victims Act lookback window and helped establish the template for subsequent diocesan bankruptcies across the country. The settlement demonstrated that New York's lookback window legislation succeeded in providing compensation to survivors who had been legally barred from filing for decades.
Diocese of Buffalo Settlement — 900 Claims
SettlementThe Diocese of Buffalo settled approximately 900 clergy abuse claims for $150 million following its 2020 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which was directly triggered by claim volume generated by New York's Child Victims Act (2019). The Buffalo settlement is notable for the scale of its survivor community — nearly 900 claimants — and for the Diocese's release of a comprehensive list of credibly accused clergy prior to settlement. Buffalo remains an active litigation market for claims against individual defendants not covered by the diocesan settlement, and survivors may have additional options under New York's March 2026 lookback window.
Archdiocese of New York Compensation Fund
SettlementThe Archdiocese of New York established a $300 million voluntary compensation fund in September 2025 to resolve approximately 1,300 survivor claims without a bankruptcy filing. The fund was administered by an independent claims administrator and used a structured point-based matrix to assign compensation amounts based on abuse severity, duration, survivor age at time of abuse, and institutional knowledge factors. The Archdiocese of New York's fund represents one of the largest voluntary (non-bankruptcy) settlement funds in clergy abuse history and demonstrates that direct negotiation outside the bankruptcy process can produce significant survivor compensation.
Survivors of clergy abuse may have more time to file than they realize. Get a free, confidential evaluation today.
Get Your Free Case Reviewor call 1-800-555-0100
Childhood Sexual Trauma and PTSD
Medical Definition
Childhood sexual trauma — abuse by a trusted authority figure during developmentally critical years — causes profound and lasting psychological harm that is well-documented in peer-reviewed psychiatric and psychological literature. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most commonly diagnosed condition in adult survivors of childhood clergy abuse. Unlike PTSD arising from combat or accidents, childhood sexual trauma PTSD is characterized by complex relational disruption, identity disturbance, and pervasive shame responses that can remain latent or unrecognized for decades before a survivor connects their symptoms to the original abuse. The institutional context — abuse by a representative of a trusted religious authority — intensifies the psychological impact through betrayal trauma, defined as trauma arising from violations by individuals or institutions on whom the victim depends. Research by Jennifer Freyd, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Oregon has documented that betrayal trauma produces unique long-term dissociative and avoidant symptom profiles that differ from other trauma types.
Symptoms
Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares related to the abuse
CommonEmotional numbing, detachment, or restricted range of affect
CommonHypervigilance and exaggerated startle response
CommonAvoidance of people, places, or situations that trigger abuse memories
CommonDifficulty trusting others, particularly in authority relationships
ModerateSubstance use disorders as coping mechanisms
ModerateDepression, persistent low mood, and anhedonia
ModerateSuicidal ideation or attempts (at elevated rates compared to general population)
Warning signRisk Factors
- Age at time of abuse — younger age is associated with more severe long-term outcomes
- Duration of abuse — chronic, repeated abuse produces more complex trauma profiles
- Relationship to perpetrator — clergy represent particularly high-trust authority figures
- Institutional response — experience of being disbelieved or silenced increases harm
- Lack of therapeutic support following disclosure or discovery
- Co-occurring adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Treatment Options
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
Medical Definition
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a diagnostic category recognized in the ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases, 11th edition) and widely used in clinical practice to describe the distinct symptom profile arising from prolonged, repeated trauma — particularly trauma that occurs in childhood and involves interpersonal betrayal rather than a single catastrophic event. The World Health Organization's ICD-11 distinguishes C-PTSD from standard PTSD by the addition of three core features: emotional dysregulation, disturbances in self-perception (persistent shame, guilt, worthlessness), and relational disturbances (difficulty maintaining intimate relationships, pervasive distrust). Research published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress and other peer-reviewed outlets consistently finds C-PTSD in high proportions of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse by clergy and other authority figures. Forensic and clinical experts retained in clergy abuse litigation routinely document C-PTSD as the central diagnosis in cases involving repeated abuse over months or years.
Symptoms
Persistent and profound shame or worthlessness not attributable to other causes
CommonChronic emptiness or despair — difficulty imagining a positive future
CommonEmotional flooding — intense, uncontrolled emotional reactions
CommonDissociative episodes — feeling detached from body or surroundings
ModerateRelationship instability — repeated ruptures of close relationships
ModerateRevictimization patterns — increased vulnerability to subsequent exploitation
Warning signSomatic complaints — chronic pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, unexplained physical illness
ModerateRisk Factors
- Repeated and prolonged abuse (months to years) rather than isolated incidents
- Abuse by a figure with spiritual authority (amplifies shame and identity disruption)
- Grooming process — perpetrators who groomed victims produce more complex attachment trauma
- Absence of protective adults who believed or intervened
- Pre-existing vulnerability from other adverse childhood experiences
- Delayed disclosure — years of carrying the secret without support
Treatment Options
Dissociative Disorders
Medical Definition
Dissociative disorders — including dissociative amnesia, depersonalization/derealization disorder, and dissociative identity disorder (DID) — are recognized in both the DSM-5 and ICD-11 as trauma-spectrum conditions that arise from severe or chronic childhood trauma. Dissociation is the psychological process by which a person mentally separates from thoughts, feelings, surroundings, or memories — a protective mechanism that allows a child to survive abuse that would otherwise be psychologically overwhelming. When dissociation becomes a pervasive coping style, it can produce significant functional impairment. Dissociative amnesia — the inability to recall autobiographical information about the trauma — is particularly relevant to clergy abuse litigation because it explains why many survivors genuinely could not recall the details of their abuse until adulthood, often triggered by a disclosure by another survivor, a news report, or a specific sensory cue. Courts and legislatures have increasingly recognized dissociative amnesia as a valid explanation for delayed disclosure, which has informed the design of lookback window legislation.
Symptoms
Memory gaps — inability to recall significant periods of childhood
CommonFeeling detached from one's own thoughts, feelings, or body (depersonalization)
CommonSense that the world is unreal or dreamlike (derealization)
ModerateIdentity confusion — feeling like different people in different situations
ModerateSudden, intrusive memories triggered by seemingly unrelated stimuli
ModerateHearing internal voices or having experiences of other identity states (DID)
SevereRisk Factors
- Severe childhood trauma, particularly with an attachment figure or authority figure
- Abuse accompanied by threats, coercion, or spiritual manipulation ('God wants this')
- Chronic rather than episodic trauma
- Young age at onset of abuse — pre-verbal or early childhood abuse produces more severe dissociation
- Absence of a safe adult to whom the child could disclose
- Pre-existing family environment with other sources of instability or abuse
Treatment Options
Your Legal Team
Catherine Oduya
Senior Partner
New York, NY
Catherine Oduya has spent 22 years representing survivors of institutional sexual abuse, with a primary focus on Catholic clergy abuse litigation in New York state courts. She was among the first attorneys to file claims under New York's Child Victims Act in 2019 and has represented over 300 survivors in diocesan bankruptcy proceedings and direct civil litigation against New York dioceses. Catherine's background in psychology informs her trauma-informed approach to client advocacy — she understands the unique psychological barriers that prevent survivors from coming forward and provides a safe, judgment-free environment for initial consultations. She has recovered over $120 million for Catholic Church abuse survivors in her career. Catherine is a member of CHILD USA's attorney network and collaborates with SNAP to connect survivors with legal resources. She is actively preparing cases for New York's March 2026 lookback window.
Education
- J.D., Fordham University School of Law (2004)
- B.A., Psychology, New York University (2001)
Renee Fontenot
Partner
New Orleans, LA
Renee Fontenot is one of Louisiana's leading attorneys for Catholic clergy abuse survivors, with 19 years of experience navigating the state's distinctive diocesan litigation landscape. She represented survivors in the Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy proceedings that resulted in a $305 million settlement in early 2026. Renee is now urgently focused on the Diocese of Alexandria bankruptcy: the court-ordered claims bar date is June 8, 2026, and she is working with survivors across central and northwest Louisiana to ensure they file proofs of claim before this absolute deadline. She is fluent in both English and French and has experience serving Louisiana's rural Catholic communities where survivors may have had limited prior access to legal representation. Renee provides free, confidential consultations and handles all clergy abuse cases on a contingency fee basis.
Education
- J.D., Tulane University Law School (2007)
- B.A., Sociology, Louisiana State University (2004)
Michael Tran
Partner
Los Angeles, CA
Michael Tran has dedicated his legal career to representing survivors of childhood sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in California courts. His undergraduate concentration in religious studies gives him a unique understanding of the institutional dynamics and theological authority structures that enable clergy abuse and cover-up — knowledge he uses to build compelling negligence cases against diocesan leadership. Michael has filed over 200 cases under California's lookback window legislation (AB 218, extended through AB 250) and has extensive experience in the LA Archdiocese litigation context, which produced the historic $660 million settlement. He is currently accepting cases under California's active lookback window, which remains open through December 2027.
Education
- J.D., UC Berkeley School of Law (2009)
- B.A., Religious Studies, Stanford University (2006)
Frequently Asked Questions
Catholic Church Abuse Lawsuit Filing Deadlines — Lookback Windows and Bankruptcy Claims
Survivors of Catholic clergy abuse face two distinct types of deadlines: (1) state lookback window expiration dates, which are legislative deadlines after which the temporary suspension of the statute of limitations ends; and (2) diocesan bankruptcy claims bar dates, which are court-ordered deadlines for submitting proofs of claim to a diocese's bankruptcy estate. Missing either type of deadline can permanently eliminate a survivor's right to compensation.
Lookback Windows, Bankruptcy Bar Dates, and Standard Statutes of Limitations
Unlike pharmaceutical mass tort cases where the discovery rule governs a single limitations period, Catholic Church abuse litigation involves three distinct legal pathways — each with its own deadline structure. First, lookback windows: several states have enacted laws that temporarily suspend the statute of limitations entirely, creating a new period during which previously time-barred claims can be filed. These windows have firm expiration dates. California's lookback window (AB 218 / AB 250) is open through December 2027. Louisiana's window is open through June 2027. New York opens a new lookback filing period in March 2026. Second, diocesan bankruptcy claims bar dates: when a diocese files Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the court sets a bar date — the deadline to file a proof of claim with the bankruptcy estate. These are hard deadlines. The Diocese of Alexandria (Louisiana) bankruptcy bar date is June 8, 2026. The Diocese of Fresno and Diocese of San Diego also have active bankruptcy claims processes. Third, standard SOL: in states without open lookback windows and without active diocesan bankruptcies, survivors may still have claims if they are within the state's standard civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse — which ranges from 5 to 40 years after the survivor turns 18 depending on the state, and is further modified by delayed discovery rules in many jurisdictions.
Real-World Examples
A Buffalo, New York survivor experienced abuse by a diocesan priest in 1987 when they were 14 years old.
New York's Child Victims Act (2019) created a lookback window that generated over 11,000 claims in the first window period (2019–2021). New York's Adult Survivors Act and subsequent legislation open a new filing window beginning March 2026. This survivor can file a new or refiled claim under the March 2026 window. The Diocese of Buffalo has already settled for $150 million — ongoing claims may still be filed in state court against individual perpetrators or other institutional defendants.
A Louisiana survivor was abused by a priest in the Diocese of Alexandria in the 1990s.
The Diocese of Alexandria filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 31, 2025. The bankruptcy court has set a claims bar date of June 8, 2026. This survivor MUST file a proof of claim with the bankruptcy court by June 8, 2026 or permanently lose their right to compensation from the bankruptcy estate. Additionally, Louisiana has an active state lookback window through June 2027 for direct civil claims. This survivor should retain an attorney immediately — the June 8 deadline is the most urgent in current clergy abuse litigation.
Bottom Line
Survivors of Catholic clergy abuse should not assume their claims are too old to pursue. State lookback windows and diocesan bankruptcy claims processes provide multiple pathways to compensation that bypass traditional statute of limitations barriers. The Diocese of Alexandria June 8, 2026 bankruptcy deadline is the most immediate and non-negotiable deadline in current litigation. Survivors in New York should be aware that a new filing window opens in March 2026.
In-Depth Guides
Sexual abuse perpetrated by priests, teachers, coaches, or administrators in Catholic schools creates distinct institutional liability against the school, the diocese, and any religious order that operated the school — and state lookback windows may allow claims from decades ago to be filed today.
Read guideOver 30 U.S. Catholic dioceses have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, each with a court-ordered claims deadline. The Diocese of Alexandria deadline is June 8, 2026. Missing a bankruptcy bar date permanently eliminates your right to compensation from that diocese's fund.
Read guideURGENT: The Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 31, 2025. The court-ordered claims deadline is June 8, 2026. Survivors who miss this date lose all right to compensation from the bankruptcy fund.
Read guideThe Diocese of Buffalo reached a $150 million settlement covering approximately 900 survivor claims, but additional litigation options remain available under New York's new lookback window opening March 2026.
Read guideNew York opens a new filing window for childhood sexual abuse claims in March 2026. This window allows survivors to file civil lawsuits regardless of when the abuse occurred — even if prior statute of limitations had expired.
Read guideAbuse occurring in Catholic seminary settings — by faculty members, spiritual directors, senior seminarians, or visiting clergy — creates institutional liability against the diocese and the seminary, and may qualify for compensation under state lookback windows.
Read guideCatholic clergy abuse settlement amounts range from $50,000 through $3 million or more depending on the severity and duration of the abuse, whether the claim proceeds through a diocesan bankruptcy fund or direct litigation, and the specific diocese involved.
Read guideThe statute of limitations for Catholic clergy abuse varies dramatically by state. Several states have open lookback windows that suspend the standard deadline entirely — and no law firm competitor offers a complete state-by-state reference table.
Read guideYou may qualify for a Catholic Church abuse claim if you experienced sexual abuse by any Catholic official — priest, deacon, teacher, youth minister, or administrator — as a minor, and a lookback window or diocesan bankruptcy process is currently available in your state.
Read guideSexual abuse perpetrated by Catholic youth ministers, youth group leaders, and parish volunteers — not just ordained clergy — creates institutional liability against the parish and diocese under the same legal principles that apply to priest abuse.
Read guideState-Specific Information
Sources & References
- The Boston Globe Spotlight Investigation — Church Allowed Abuse by Priest for Years — The Boston Globe, January 6, 2002 [Link]
- The Nature and Scope of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States, 1950–2002 — John Jay College of Criminal Justice, commissioned by the USCCB (2004)
- Report of the Grand Jury — Clergy Abuse in Six Pennsylvania Dioceses — Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (August 2018)
- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) — SNAP — snapnetwork.org [Link]
- BishopAccountability.org — Credibly Accused Clergy Database — BishopAccountability.org [Link]