As victims become to come forward with claims of Catholic priest abuse and pursue their rights to either settle their decades-old abuse claim or pursue litigation, one case involving two women and a former priest has been closed out.

Two sisters from the Bronx alleged that they were abused by a Catholic priest in their home and have now ended their case against the Archdiocese of New York, according to the Daily News.

Catholic priest abuse has received a large portion of news coverage in the past few years after reports indicating the widespread nature of abuse of young children in the Roman Catholic Church surfaced in several states.

According to the victims in that lawsuit against the Archdiocese of New York, the abuse stretched back to the 1970s. The man who was accused of abusing them was a Bronx parish priest at the time of the incidents, but he was later promoted to the role of secretary.

The priest allegedly made regular visit to the family home, but would seek opportunities to go upstairs and abuse the young girls. The women chose to settle their case using the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, although they did not share with the Daily News the exact number amount for which they settled their case.

According to local news source News 12, the abuse went on for a period of five years, during which time the woman said were filled with dread each time the priest came to visit their home. The priest has since passed away, but the sisters were hoping for justice in pursuing their Catholic sex abuse case as adults.

The victims reportedly kept quiet about the incident for a very long time, especially after the priest was promoted to a more public position within the Church hierarchy. However, their desire to remain quiet on the abuse changed when their friend from childhood stepped up to tell his story about horrific abuse at the hands of a different priest.

The Archdiocese of New York reportedly stated that they want other victims to feel safe in coming forward to discuss possible compensation.

Many victims might feel shame or wonder how much detail they would have to provide in order to discuss compensation. Victims should be aware that choosing to take a settlement from the New York Catholic sex abuse compensation fund would block them from being able to file any other legal action against the church on that same case or issue.

Leaders in the Archdiocese of New York have gone on the record to say that the settlement program has been effective for allowing closure for some victims who want to put this abuse behind them. The group also will not reveal details about individual settlements that were reached with victims.

In total, according to the New York Times, over 120 church officials in New York have been accused of some form of abuse so far, with the possibility that more victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church will decide to step forward with their own stories. That only covers the New York cases, and many other victims in numerous states, like Pennsylvania, have significant reports of the incidents of Catholic priest abuse that have affected children in decades past.

If you or someone you know suffered due to Catholic priest abuse as a child, you might be able to take legal action. Top Class Actions can help you find an attorney.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.