The Catholic Church has been in the news all too often for scandals involving members of its clergy. Church officials in many cities across the U.S. have had to settle lawsuits alleging that priests sexually abused children. When one person comes forward, there are often several others who have also been the victims of abuse. The Philadelphia Archdiocese is the latest to be facing lawsuits over the conduct of its priests.
The Archdiocese was the subject of a grand jury investigation in 2005, which uncovered a cover-up of the abuse by church officials. After this was complete, the Archdiocese pledged resources to more fully investigate abuse allegations. An official was appointed to lead investigations in the abuse, and priests who were accused were to have been isolated from children.
In early 2011, a second grand jury investigation determined that Monsignor William Lynn, appointed by the church to investigate the alleged incidents of sexual abuse, did not remove the priests from roles that required interaction with children. The report indicated at least 37 credible sexual abuse allegations, which led the Archdiocese to suspend 21 priests.
As a result of the investigation, several priests and church officials are facing criminal charges such as rape and endangering the welfare of children. In addition, the Archdiocese was served with multiple lawsuits by the victims of abuse.
The lawsuits allege that the Archdiocese did not adequately investigate the reported abuse, and instead tried to hide this information to ensure that it did not face any potentially large lawsuits. The church also was accused of not properly supervising its employees, because priests who had been suspected of abuse were still allowed to have contact with children.
Unfortunately, these stories often are reported when it is too late to prevent it from happening to others. One abusive priest can impact several lives. If you or a family member has been sexually abused by a member of the clergy, teacher, coach or other person in a position of authority, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss the options available.
