Concerns about the number of clergy sex abuse victims across the country have been on the rise in recent years.

Survivors claim that they were abused at the hands of priests and other church leaders, with many allegations dating back decades. The perpetrators of this abuse are not the only ones named in litigation — institutions that ignored, allowed, or otherwise failed to prevent the abuse are being hit with litigation as well.

For clergy sex abuse victims in Pennsylvania, a compensation fund was put together to compensate those who were abused by priests as young children. Advocates for victims argue, however, that such compensation funds should not end clergy sex abuse victims’ right to pursue additional lawsuits.

The Catholic church claimed that the reasoning behind establishing these compensation funds was to allow for financial support for those victims who were harmed as children.

Despite dioceses across the country creating compensation programs and making other moves to show support for survivors of clergy sex abuse, some churches continue to defend a loophole that allows clergy to avoid reporting child sex abuse if learned about in a confessional setting.

Victims and compensation

A massive grand jury report documented the significant number of clergy sex abuse victims that may live in the state of Pennsylvania.

The grand jury report contained details about decades of sexual abuse carried out by hundreds of clergy members against at least a thousand young children. That report concluded with various recommendations for lawmakers and the diocese to address the comprehensive problems that lead to these issues of abuse being buried.

One of the recommendations listed in the clergy sex abuse victims report was that a two-year window should be established for retroactive lawsuits in order for victims to pursue abuse cases against a negligent institution that may have ignored or even actively covered up the abuse.

Many states have instituted similar look-back windows, but Pennsylvania has not yet managed to do the same. An amendment was proposed in response to the grand jury report, and it was expected to pass the state House and Senate and soon make it onto the ballot. However, an error from the state department means that the amendment cannot go onto the ballot this year. Now, the earliest Pennsylvania can see the amendment on the ballot is in 2023. The Pennsylvania secretary of state has resigned as a result.

A current state representative who was a clergy sex abuse victim himself intends to bring the retroactivity issue back to the table during the next legislative session; he believes that the creation of compensation funds is a good initial step, but is not comprehensive enough to address the depth of the problem.

He and some other advocates of clergy sex abuse victims’ rights say that certain individuals prefer the compensation fund as this avoids having to engage in a legislative battle. Others, however, still want to have the opportunity to pursue lawsuits if they elect to do so.

Current clergy and Catholic Church representatives believe that if the retroactivity measure is allowed, it could lead to so many lawsuits that, in an effort to respond to these allegations, the church could become completely bankrupted.

Filing a Catholic sexual abuse lawsuit

Victims of sex abuse within the Catholic Church are coming forward in growing numbers, many of them encouraged by similar stories from other victims in recent years. Most of the abused are grown men who suffered at a young age, most with similar allegations that the abuse was carried out at the hands of priests inside the Catholic Church.

The news stories profiling these victims have led to concerns about the depth of the abuse all over the nation. Some attorneys general have come forward to ask for investigations in their own states to better understand how many are affected.

A number of states, including California and New York, have recently introduced changes to their sexual abuse laws, often giving survivors more time to come forward with their allegations.

If you or someone you love has suffered from sexual abuse at the hands of a priest or other leader within the Catholic Church, you may be able to file a lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by this abuse, but it can at least help to provide some compensation, as well as hold those responsible — including the abuser as well as the organization — accountable for their actions and inactions.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.