Decades after the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis gained national attention, the majority of American Catholics still believe the issue is far from over.
In a 2025 study, Pew Research Center polled a group of Americans who identify as Catholic to better understand how they view sexual abuse and misconduct in the Church today.
Around 62% of U.S. Catholics believe clergy sex abuse is an ongoing problem, with only 31% thinking this issue is a matter of the past, according to the Pew Research Center study.
Each year, more survivors come forward about abuse by priests during their childhood. Despite promises of reform and public apologies, many Catholics remain unconvinced that the Church has done enough to fully reckon with their past.
At Sokolove Law, we’ve spent decades fighting for survivors. If you were abused by a member of the Catholic Church, we may be able to help you seek justice.
What the Study Showed on Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church
In June 2025, the Pew Research Center released an updated survey asking U.S. Catholics about their views on sexual abuse in the Church. In total, 94% of participants had heard of sexual abuse by priests or bishops.
The study looked at whether regular Mass attendance influenced participants' views on the persistence of this problem. Participants were also asked their thoughts on the issue of sex abuse in other religious organizations.
The survey on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church found:
- 62% of Catholics believe clergy sex abuse is still an issue, which is down slightly from 69% in 2019.
- Among Catholics who attend Mass weekly, more than 50% believe abuse remains a problem.
- That number rose to 70% among Catholics who attend Mass a few times a year or less.
- 68% of survey participants believe sexual abuse by Catholic priests is equally as common among other religious leaders, while 19% think it’s more common.
“About six-in-ten Catholics say that sexual abuse and misconduct by Catholic priests and bishops is an ongoing problem, while roughly three-in-ten say this is something that happened in the past and mostly doesn’t happen anymore.”
– Pew Research Center
These findings reflect an ongoing lack of trust in the Church and their ability to prevent clergy sexual abuse, with more distance from the religion increasing how likely someone is to believe the issue to be ongoing.
Decades of mishandled reports have had a lasting impact, leading to calls for transparency, accountability, and meaningful reform.
History of Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church
Reports of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church date back to the 1940s. However, for many Americans, the scope of this issue was unclear until 2002, when the Boston Globe published their investigation into the Church.
Investigators found widespread abuse and systemic coverups within the Archdiocese of Boston. Many Church officials routinely reassigned priests accused of sexually abusing children to new parishes instead of reporting them to the police.
By ignoring, denying, or hiding the abuse, leaders of the Catholic Church reportedly allowed predators to continue harming children for generations.
Thousands of survivors have come forward and filed civil sexual abuse lawsuits. Since 2004, the Catholic Church has paid out more than $5 Billion to survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
By taking legal action, survivors can seek compensation and accountability — even if their abuser has already passed away. These lawsuits may also help increase pressure for systemic change to protect future generations.
“Children in the Catholic church are still being sexually assaulted by clergy, and universal church law still allows these priests to be reinstated if certain conditions are met.”
– Anne Barrett Doyle, Co-Founder of BishopAccountability
Is Sexual Abuse an Issue in Other Religions?
Sexual abuse by clergy members, religious leaders, and laypeople isn’t limited to the Catholic Church.
Survivors across a wide range of faiths have come forward and accused institutions of covering up abuse, pressuring survivors into silence, or handling allegations internally rather than involving law enforcement.
Other religious communities facing sexual abuse claims include:
- Jehovah’s Witnesses: The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, which is the religion’s parent organization, has faced multiple lawsuits regarding the cover-up of child abuse. A secret database of alleged abusers wasn’t shared with police, and policies like the “two-witness rule” meant abusers were rarely disciplined.
- Mormons: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been accused of placing their reputation before child safety. Leaders reportedly established a “help line” for survivors of abuse, which routed them to the church’s law firm instead of the police.
- Scientology: Multiple sexual abuse lawsuits have been filed against the Church and David Miscavige, who is the current leader of Scientology. Church officials reportedly knew about instances of child sex abuse but failed to stop it or contact the police.
- Southern Baptist Convention: In 2019, an investigation uncovered nearly 400 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers accused of sexual misconduct. Over 700 survivors came forward about their experiences.
These are not the only religious organizations facing sexual assault lawsuits that claim years of secrecy regarding instances of child abuse.
Yet while each institution operates differently, a common theme persists: When a church’s image is placed above transparency and accountability, abuse may be allowed to flourish unchecked.
Recent Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Settlements
In recent years, Catholic dioceses across the country have established settlement funds for survivors of clergy sexual abuse. These funds are part of broader efforts to address the Catholic Church’s long history of abuse, serving as a step toward justice and accountability.
Catholic Church abuse settlements include:
- $320 Million from the Diocese of Rockville Centre in Long Island for around 600 survivors in 2024
- $179.2 Million to survivors of sexual abuse linked to the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2025
- $40 Million for those harmed by priests and deacons affiliated with the New York Archdiocese in 2017
- $31 Million for survivors of clergy abuse linked to the Norwich Roman Catholic Diocese in Connecticut in 2025
- $27.5 Million to students who were abused by a teacher at a church-affiliated school in 2018
- $100 Million to parishioners harmed by priests affiliated with the Diocese of Syracuse in 2023
- $150 Million from the Diocese of Buffalo to settle nearly 900 sex abuse claims in 2025
Trauma caused by childhood abuse doesn’t always fade with time. Survivors who were abused decades ago may still be eligible for compensation, representing a long-overdue acknowledgment of the harm they endured.
Get Help from Our Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawyers
The majority of U.S. Catholics believe clergy abuse is still an issue, and for many survivors, the fight for justice is ongoing.
At Sokolove Law, our Catholic Church sexual abuse lawyers can help individuals in all 50 states take legal action and pursue compensation.
To date, we’ve secured over $10 Billion for clients harmed through no fault of their own, including those impacted by clergy abuse.
No one should have to carry the weight of abuse alone. Call (800) 995-1212 now or fill out our contact form to see if we may be able to fight for you.
