Many people view their church as a place to practice their faith and find comfort in difficult times. But what happens when the person many people turn to for guidance betrays that trust? A new report by a Pennsylvania Grand Jury outlines some disturbing events within the Catholic Church dioceses in the Commonwealth, and many victims will be seeking out a Catholic Church sexual abuse attorney.

Abuse by Priests is Not New News

Recent Lawsuits and Press Releases

Released on August 14, 2018, the findings show that over 300 priests within the Pittsburgh and Greensburg Dioceses were accused of inappropriate acts with children. Upper levels of the Church also allegedly covered up reports of priests who preyed on young children for decades. In one instance, there was even the reluctance to pursue investigations by a local district attorney to secure political favor from the diocese.

Abuse by priests is not new news to the Catholic Church. There have been many lawsuits filed against various members of the Church on behalf of victims. Monsignor William Lynn of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was the first U.S. Catholic Church official to be convicted of endangering the welfare of a child by assigning a priest with a known history of abuse to a church within the diocese. It was only after an attorney who specialized sexual abuse by members of the Catholic Church filed claims on behalf of their victims that justice was served.

Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Attorney Seek Justice

Catholic Church abuse attorneys may have a new weapon in their arsenal if  Pennsylvania Representative Mark Rozzi (D- Berks) gets his way. The State Representative is pushing for legislation that would give those with claims that are outside the statute of limitations two years to bring litigation. Those incidents that occur after any legislation is passed would not be subject to any statute of limitations, potentially allowing many victims with repressed memories to seek justice. The matter is now before the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.

Contact KM&A

An attorney who is sensitive to the topic of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church is going to be the best ally a victim can have. They will not only be sympathetic to the concerns of their client, but they will also be aggressive in restoring a sense of justice to those who were innocent, and, many times, unwilling victims of a pedophile priest. We at Kraemer, Manes, & Associates are experienced civil attorneys with the compassion to handle such a delicate subject.

If you or someone you know has experienced abuse at the hands of a clergy member, lay ministry member, or any other member of the Catholic Church, please call our firm at 412-626-5626 or 215-628-9185 for a free evaluation of your case. We will handle your information with compassion, sensitivity, and discretion while gathering the information needed to determine how we may be able to help.