Clergy Sex Abuse Lawyer

What Is a Clergy Abuse Lawsuit?

Clergy sex abuse is the abuse of minors by Catholic Church officials such as priests and deacons. In reality, child sex abuse by clergy members is an institution-wide abuse scandal involving sex crimes that will impact survivors their entire lives.

The child survivors who suffered sexual assault should have been protected by the institutions that claimed to have their best interests at heart — but for thousands, this was not the case. Now, families nationwide are filing clergy abuse lawsuits.

This means that although churches and other organizations were typically the first to know about acts of abuse, they permitted it to continue with little or no consequences.

If you or someone you love experienced childhood sexual abuse by clergy members, we encourage you to take action. Reporting abuse and talking to a clergy abuse lawyer about your legal options may help give you some peace of mind — and prevent future abuse.

Clergy Sex Abuse News

• July 2025: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno, which is facing over 150 clergy abuse claims, announced their plan to file for bankruptcy and establish a settlement fund for survivors.
• June 2025: Louisiana has passed an anti-grooming law championed by clergy abuse survivor Tim Gioe, his wife, and her father, who is a state senator. The law aims to prevent future abuse by making it a crime for priests and other adults to groom minors, even if no physical abuse has occurred.
• May 22, 2025: The Archdiocese of New Orleans agreed to create a $179.2 Million settlement fund, which will resolve over 600 claims of sexual abuse.
• May 21, 2025: In Connecticut, a bankruptcy judge approved a $31 Million settlement fund for survivors of clergy sexual abuse linked to the Norwich Roman Catholic Diocese.
• April 2025: The Diocese of Buffalo in New York has agreed to pay $150 Million to settle nearly 900 clergy sex abuse claims.
• December 2024: The Diocese of Rockville Centre in Long Island received approval of a $320 Million clergy abuse settlement for 600 survivors.
• April 2024: After reaching a $27.5 Million settlement for clergy abuse in 2018, the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York has agreed to major policy reforms to better prevent, investigate, and address abuse allegations.
• July 2023: The Diocese of Syracuse has agreed to pay $100 Million to nearly 400 parishioners who were reportedly sexually abused by their priests.
• December 2019: New Jersey extended the statute of limitations in civil actions for sexual abuse claims and created a two-year window to bring previously time-barred actions based on sexual abuse.
• November 2019: Lawmakers in Pennsylvania pass legislation that extends the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse lawsuits.
• September 2019: A new program opens in California to compensate childhood sex abuse survivors; the program was opened by six Catholic dioceses.
• August 2019: New York opens a one-year revival window for claims that were previously time-barred. This window extends the statute of limitations for filing clergy sex abuse lawsuits, giving survivors the ability to sue until they are 55.
• June 2019: New Jersey opens a clergy sex abuse compensation program, which has received over 500 claims, as of January 2020.

Institutions & Abuse

Religious institutions like the Catholic Church spent decades protecting predator priests by agreeing not to divulge any details to the public. Instead, those in charge simply shifted a problem priest from one diocese to another.

The Catholic Church, though, is far from the only religious institution to side with sexual predators over victims. Other religious institutions have played a part in keeping secret a combined thousands of instances of child sexual abuse.

New York Archdiocese & Abuse

The Archdiocese of New York, which is one of the largest Catholic dioceses in the United States, has faced decades of sexual abuse allegations involving priests and other clergy members.

In 2016, the New York Archdiocese established the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program to provide compensation to survivors of abuse.

By November 2017, the program paid out over $40 Million to nearly 200 parishioners who had been abused by priests and deacons affiliated with the New York Archdiocese.

Hundreds of other survivors have since come forward, revealing the widespread and systemic nature of abuse within the church. To date, the Archdiocese has publicly named 115 priests and 5 deacons accused of sexual abuse.

Brooklyn Diocese & Abuse

The Diocese of Brooklyn, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens, has been the subject of widespread clergy abuse allegations. Over the years, more than 100 priests have been accused of sexually abusing children.

The Diocese reportedly failed to handle abuse allegations properly by: 

• Allowing known abusers to continue working with children without supervision
• Not informing parishioners when priests admitted to sexually abusing minors
• Transferring abusers to different parishes to avoid complaints and scrutiny

Previously, the Diocese reached a $27.5 Million New York Catholic Church sex abuse settlement with four boys who were assaulted by a teacher at a church-affiliated school.

The Brooklyn Diocese has agreed to policy changes aimed at improving how clergy sex abuse cases are handled, including independent reviews to ensure compliance, greater transparency, and new safeguards to protect minors.

“The Diocese knew about this pervasive problem, but it did not adequately address allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct. Now, the Diocese has made a commitment to implementing holistic reforms that will ensure every report of sexual abuse or misconduct is handled quickly and transparently.”
– New York State Attorney General Letitia James

New Orleans Archdiocese & Abuse

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans faces over 600 claims of sexual abuse, including cases involving a church-run orphanage called Hope Haven.

In 2009, the Archdiocese reached a settlement worth more than $5 Million with survivors and former residents of Hope Haven, which they operated from the 1940s to the 1980s.

The plan also includes a public disclosure of abuse records, changes to how they handle reports of abuse, and the creation of a memorial at Hope Haven.

Norwich Diocese & Abuse

The Norwich Roman Catholic Diocese, which oversees more than 50 parishes and schools in Connecticut, has faced multiple lawsuits involving child sexual abuse in church-run facilities.

There have been at least 190 sexual abuse claims, many of which involve incidents at the church’s Academy at Mount St. John from 1989 to 2002. Alleged abusers include the school’s former executive director and a music teacher who also served as a Boy Scout leader.

In May 2025, a $31 Million settlement fund was approved for survivors of clergy abuse within the Diocese. An additional $1.8 Million has been set aside to support future survivors who may come forward.

The fund, which was created as part of a bankruptcy plan stemming from Norwich Diocese lawsuits, will reportedly pay survivors $20,000 to $310,000 each, depending on the details of their case and if they plan to pursue additional legal action.

Clergy Abuse Statistics

The extent of the clergy abuse cover-up is shocking, with thousands of people across the United States reporting instances of abuse. Below, find statistics about victims of child sexual abuse, accused priests, and more.

• According to a study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 4,392 priests were accused of abuse throughout an approximate 50-year span (1950 to 2002).
• Over 20 dioceses have filed for bankruptcy since 2004, attempting to quietly end existing lawsuits and prevent new ones from being filed.
• According to a 2018 study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, mental and physical health issues and lower lifetime earnings may cost clergy sex abuse victims over $280,000 throughout their lifetime.
• According to an investigation conducted by the Associated Press, roughly 1,700 clergy members who were credibly accused of child sex abuse are now living with no supervision from law enforcement.

Though alarming, statistics about allegations of abuse and their resulting impacts on the nation have sparked efforts to stop abusers in their tracks.

Ending Clergy Abuse

In August 2018, a Pennsylvania Grand Jury released a report detailing over 1,000 abuse allegations dating back 70 years. The grand jury report, which rocked the Catholic Church, involved over 300 Pennsylvania priests who were all credibly linked to cases of clergy sex abuse.

Shortly after the release of Pennsylvania’s report, other state attorneys general started following in their footsteps, setting up statewide investigations into the Catholic dioceses of their own.

Evidence is mounting against the Catholic Church as investigations continue and dioceses around the country release lists of credibly accused clergy.

Information from various dioceses details:

• Names of known sexual abusers
• Locations at which they worked
• When allegations of sexual abuse were made against them

While releasing the lists of abusers may seem like a step in the right direction, many survivors and advocacy groups believe this is nothing more than an empty gesture. In other words, the Church may want the public to believe they are releasing such information to be proactive against Catholic sexual abuse when in reality this does very little.

Advocates are also skeptical that the Catholic Church will comply with law enforcement investigations. High-profile religious leaders are being investigated, and the Catholic Church has a long history of protecting these individuals in the face of legal trouble.

Clergy Abuse Compensation

For clergy abuse survivors who have been forced to bear the burden of past or present sexual abuse, their physical and mental scars may last a lifetime. However, survivors may have options to receive clergy abuse compensation for their suffering and to hold their abuser(s) accountable.

Some states have even set up special compensation programs to help victims cover the costs associated with abuse and its lasting trauma.

Examples of compensation programs include: 

• In 2016, the Archdiocese of New York established the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program to compensate survivors of abuse, even decades old. Since then, more and more programs have been started in dioceses all over the country.
• In September 2019, six Catholic dioceses in California initiated a new program to compensate survivors of clergy sex abuse called the Independent Compensation Program (ICP). The deadline to submit a claim for this program was January 31, 2020.

These are just a couple of examples of the many compensation programs that exist across the nation to help victims and hold abusers accountable. No matter what state your abuse occurred, it is worth it to contact Sokolove Law to learn whether you may be eligible to file a claim.

No amount of money can undo the damage by pedophile priests and other church officials. However, compensation can play a small part in reducing a survivor's financial and emotional burden.

For example, clergy abuse compensation may help cover:

• Emotional counseling
• Mental and/or physical therapy
• Medical prescriptions
• Pain and suffering
• Inability to work

If you or a loved one is a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, call Sokolove Law for a free legal case review to learn about your legal rights and possible compensation. Hold those who wronged you accountable for their actions and protect future potential victims.

Are Clergy Abuse Settlements Taxable?

According to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), no tax deduction is allowed for any settlement or payment related to sexual abuse — if it is subject to a nondisclosure agreement. Further, tax deductions are also not allowed for any attorney’s fees related to a clergy sex abuse settlement or payment.

Get Help From a Clergy Abuse Lawyer

For survivors, compensation may be available through clergy sex abuse settlements or clergy sex abuse case verdicts. Contacting Sokolove Law is the first step in pursuing justice and compensation.

The clergy abuse attorneys at Sokolove Law are currently helping survivors who may be eligible. It may be daunting to disclose such vulnerable and sensitive information, but we urge survivors to seek the assistance of our sexual abuse attorneys.

Sokolove Law will look out for your best interests to help ensure the best possible outcome. Contact us now.

Clergy Abuse Statute of Limitations

Certain state laws prevent childhood sexual abuse victims from filing lawsuits after a certain age. In the past, this has barred many adults from taking action against the Catholic Church.

However, in the wake of public outcry, many states are reevaluating their laws around time limits survivors have to file cases against their abusers and the institutions that covered up their abuse.

Over a dozen states have passed expanded statutes of limitations bills to allow more time for survivors to come forward. In other states, similar legislation is now pending.

Statute of limitations laws across the country are now under scrutiny. Now is the time to take action.

Clergy Abuse Lawsuit

If you are a survivor of clergy sex abuse, one of the most difficult — but important — things you can do is step forward.

The voices and stories of survivors have power.  For many men, women, and children who have been sexually abused, they were likely not their predator’s only victim. With the help of a clergy abuse law firm, survivors might stop a cycle of abuse and keep their abusers from finding new victims.

Major institutions like the Roman Catholic Church were charged with the responsibility to educate, spiritually guide, and care for minors. Many times these institutions did the exact opposite: They chose to protect sexual predators instead — hold them accountable.

Sokolove Law Provides Clergy Sex Abuse Legal Help

Over 45 years ago, Sokolove Law was established upon one fundamental principle: to stand up for the voiceless and help provide them with a say in the American legal system. In the 4 decades that have passed since that promise was made, our firm has helped thousands of clients across the country recover over $10 Billion in verdicts and settlements.

If you are a survivor of clergy sex abuse, you may be entitled to compensation through the help of a clergy abuse law firm. When you speak with a member of our legal team, you can trust that we will be discreet with your information and work with only your best interests in mind.

We know it takes tremendous courage to come forward — and we are here to listen. Contact us today for a free case review.