Roman Catholic churches in New Jersey are offering compensation, and claimants may benefit from consulting with a lawyer before participating.

How many  New Jersey church officials been accused of sexual abuse?

In February 2019, Roman Catholic bishops from New Jersey dioceses released the names of 200 priests that were credibly abused of sexual abuse against a child in the state. Many of the allegations are from years or decades ago, so most of the names priests have already passed away.

The list included priests from the Archdiocese of Newark and the dioceses of Trenton, Camden, Paterson, and Metuchen. The following dioceses had church officials accused of sexual assault:

• Archdiocese of Newark: 64 priests;
• Diocese of Camden: 56 priests and 1 deacon;
• Diocese of Trenton: 30 priests;
• Diocese of Paterson: 28 priests;
• Diocese of Metuchen: 10 priests and 1 deacon.

How is the Church addressing the abuse?

This massive release of names was reportedly an attempt by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin to restore trust in the Roman Catholic churches in New Jersey following the alleged mismanagement of sexual abuse allegations.

“I beg your forgiveness,” Cardinal Tobin wrote in a letter that was released with the list, according to the New York Times. “It is our sincerest hope that this disclosure will help bring healing to those whose lives have been so deeply violated.”

In addition to releasing the game, the Roman Catholic churches in New Jersey are initiating a compensation program for victims of sexual assault.

What is the New Jersey Catholic Church sexual abuse victim compensation fund?

The compensation fund will be state-wide and run independently by the state, under the administration of renowned compensation experts Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille S. Biros.

“A key element of this program is that it is purely voluntary,” Camille Biros said, according to New Jersey 101.5. “Once we resolve and determine a claim, individuals have the opportunity to review the determination and make a decision whether or not they want to participate and accept compensation.”

Through Dec. 31, 2019, the Church will fund payments for individuals who have been sexually abused by New Jersey clergy members. The dioceses will not have any say in how much victims will be awarded. Their only involvement will be in the funding of victim awards.

“Generally they’re funded by existing resources, loans, maybe sale of property. That’s our understanding from what we’ve done in the state of New York,” Biros said.

There is not an estimate currently available for victim compensation, but similar programs in other states have produced large awards of $500,000.

Do I have to participate in the victims compensation fund, or are there other options?

Individuals who accept compensation will be required to sign a release that gives up their ability to sue the dioceses in the future. Every situation is individual, but some victims may not want to give up their legal rights.

Why are some victims hesitant about the compensation fund?

While the compensation fund appears to provide a quick and simple solution for those adult victims who want to put this entire chapter of their life behind them, others don’t want to give up their rights for litigation by taking money from the fund.

For this reason, some victims have sought out legal representation to discuss the benefits and challenges of taking money from the fund. Victims who go the route of taking a settlement should speak with an attorney first to determine whether or not a settlement suits the individual case at hand.

The current compensation program in New Jersey is overseen by a law firm. The job of that firm is to evaluate each case and make a recommended settlement. According to news releases about the fund, the church officials will not have an opportunity to challenge any amounts recommended by this outside firm.

These compensation funds have come into existence at the same time that better laws for victims have been enacted. Across the country, victims have stepped up to share their stories of individual abuse.

According to the Catholic Church, claims of sexual abuse in the Church have more than doubled in number in the most recent period for reporting. AP News reports that the money spent from the church in responding and/or settling these claims has also risen significantly.

While most of those accused of abuse had passed away or were gone from the registry when the victims came forward, advocates and victims are upset about how long it took for the church to acknowledge such a widespread issue.

Regardless of what victims want to do, they may benefit from speaking to an attorney. If victims choose to seek compensation through the Independent Compensation Program, an attorney may help organize their case so they can ensure maximum awards.

If victims are unsure about seeking compensation from the program, an attorney may be able to evaluate their case and help them make an informed decision.

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