June 26, 2020
Back in 2002, The Boston Globe unleashed a story that highlighted sexual abuse from Catholic priests, which led to a wave of mass torts and class-action lawsuits.
Just recently, in 2019, The Associated Press (AP) reported that a string of sexual abuse cases surfaced against the Catholic Church, which could end up costing the church more than $4 billion in legal fees. When abuse does take place, victims can file a personal injury lawsuit against the church. AP also reported that, in the past two years, 15 states revised their statute of limitations laws to be either suspended or extended. These revisions allow child sexual abuse victims to file a sexual abuse claim against the Catholic Church even if the alleged sexual abuse occurred decades prior.
This is leading to new cases and mass torts popping up across the United States. Until recent years, younger victims of abuse at the hands of either Mormon or Catholic churches could not file a lawsuit if they did not bring up their claim within the statute of limitations, which in many states was two years.
Mormon and Catholic Churches Battle Against Sexual Abuse Claims
While the First Amendment watches over churches for government intrusion, it cannot hold back sexual abuse victims from bringing up a lawsuit against them. With some states instilling new statute of limitations laws, Mormon and Catholic Church sexual abuse mass torts may continue to spike.
The Mormon church, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), has faced its own troubles with sexual abuse cases. Most recently, the Mormon church was handed a class-action lawsuit that claims their church is a “scheme of lies.” Furthermore, a recent report from VICE News found that the Mormon church has funneled sexual abuse claims directly to clergy lawyers only and not to law enforcement.
Mass Torts and Class-Action Lawsuits Against Churches Reveal Sexual Abuse History
There have been many mass torts and class-action lawsuits filed against both the Catholic and Mormon churches over the years. In the Catholic Church, over 7,000 priests or clerics have been accused of sexual abuse toward minors between 1950 and 2019.
Back in 2018, a Pennsylvania grand jury determined the Catholic Church protected over 300 priests who were sexually abusing victims. The case also revealed that over 1,000 young victims were identified. The church created an environment that allowed for priests to get away with sexual abuse while the crimes were never reported properly to law enforcement.
Victims Can Pursue Sexual Abuse Settlements Against Churches
When victims pursue a mass tort for sexual abuse against churches, financial compensation may become a source of justice. While money will not heal any deep wounds from sexual abuse, it can help survivors pay for current or future medical expenses they may experience due to the abuse. Financial compensation may also support a sexual abuse victim with pain and suffering or even for damaged personal relationships.
Over the years, there have been some large settlement payouts for victims of sexual abuse in churches. For instance, an archdiocese in St. Paul, Minnesota, paid out $210 million to abuse victims back in 2018, according to NBC News. That same year, the New York Post reported that an archdiocese paid 278 abuse victims nearly $60 million within the past two years. Back in 2015, an archdiocese in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, agreed to a settlement package with 330 sexual abuse survivors. The settlement reached $21 million and also included a $500,000 therapy fund, according to The New York Times.
Settlements over the years against churches have continued to result in massive payout for survivors, as exemplified by the cases mentioned. Ultimately, financial compensation can help sexual abuse victims find justice.
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