Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against Churches

Thousands of former victims were subjected to sexual abuse as children at the hands of priests, ministers, and other church members. Our clergy sex abuse lawyers represent these abuse victims in civil lawsuits against the churches and religious organizations that failed to protect them. This page will look at clergy sex abuse lawsuits and their settlement value.

If you have been a victim of sex abuse and want to file a sex abuse lawsuit, we can help you. Contact us today at 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online.

⛪ Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuits at a Glance – 2025 Update

📅 Recent Developments

  • May 13, 2025: LDS sex abuse lawsuits continue to settle.
  • April 21, 2025: Maryland passes law to limit clergy sex abuse payouts in the future
  • March 26, 2025: New lawsuit against Diocese of Peoria, IL alleges decades-long abuse by defrocked priest.
  • February 2, 2025: Maryland Supreme Court upholds the Child Victims Act.
  • February 23, 2025: Mediation is ongoing in the Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcy case with 1,000+ claims.
  • November 12, 2024: Diocese of Burlington files for bankruptcy, post-$34M in settlements.

⚖️ Legal Trends

  • Over half of U.S. states have expanded or removed child sex abuse lawsuit deadlines.
  • Catholic Church faces most claims; Assemblies of God also under scrutiny.
  • Courts more willing to hold institutions liable for enabling abuse.

📈 Settlement Landscape

  • Average Settlement: $250,000–$350,000
  • High-End Cases: Over $1M for severe or well-supported claims
  • Lower Payouts: In older claims or those with limited assets/coverage

💡 Key Legal Advantages for Survivors

  • Child Victims Act: Retroactive revival of claims in MD, NY, CA
  • Bankruptcy Settlements: Structured payouts via Chapter 11 cases
  • Privacy Protections: Filing as John/Jane Doe is often allowed

🔍 What Makes a Strong Claim?

  1. Clergy member acted in official religious capacity
  2. Abuse occurred on church property or during church-sponsored event
  3. Church failed to act on known risks or complaints
  4. Evidence exists (e.g., witnesses, records, past reports)
  5. Defendant has assets or insurance

📌 Institutions Most Frequently Named

  • Archdioceses of Baltimore, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Burlington
  • Assemblies of God / Royal Rangers

💼 Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit TOC

Clergy Abuse Lawsuit News and Update

May 13, 2025:  Survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Maryland have until May 31, 2025, to file lawsuits under the Maryland Child Victims Act and preserve their right to seek up to $1.5 million in compensation. This deadline applies to abuse by any individual or institution, including churches, schools, youth organizations, and other entities.

Importantly, while the Archdiocese of Baltimore is currently in bankruptcy, the court overseeing the case has now lifted restrictions and is allowing survivors to file and serve lawsuits against the Archdiocese. This opportunity is open only through May 31, 2025.

Filing a claim in the bankruptcy case is not enough. Survivors must also file a separate lawsuit and properly serve the defendant to retain eligibility for the full $1.5 million compensation cap. Beginning June 1, 2025, a newly enacted amendment to the CVA will reduce the maximum available damages to $700,000.

Even though these lawsuits will be automatically paused (stayed) once filed, filing before the deadline is critical to preserving the survivor’s legal rights and full compensation potential.

April 21, 2025:  The Archdiocese of Baltimore is attempting to shield its assets from child sexual abuse survivors by relying on Maryland’s “charitable immunity” doctrine. This legal strategy would prevent victims from being compensated from the archdiocese’s own wealth, restricting payouts solely to whatever insurance money is available.

Thankfully, plaintiffs’ clergy abuse lawyers are pushing back. They argue that the doctrine does not apply in this context for several reasons: the Archdiocese has publicly claimed that supporting survivors is part of its mission, it chose to file for bankruptcy rather than rely on the supposed immunity shield, and the Child Victims Act, which lifted the statute of limitations for institutional abuse claims, effectively nullified that defense.

This is merely an attempt to intimidate plaintiffs. It is a negotiation strategy.  Just like the bankruptcy filing—timed just days before the CVA took effect—was a calculated move to manage financial exposure, rather than a sincere effort to resolve claims equitably. The Archdiocese claimed between $100 million and $500 million in assets, yet also declared liabilities that could reach $1 billion, mainly due to the expected influx of over 1,000 claims under the new law.

Despite public-facing statements about offering care and compensation, the reality is that the institution continues to work behind closed doors to minimize the amount survivors are owed.  That is certainly not what many in the Church want to do.  But that is how it is playing out on the ground.

March 26, 2025: In a new lawsuit filed yesterday, a man from Peoria, Illinois, has sued the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, alleging that a defrocked priest sexually abused him as a child while he was a student and parishioner at St. Vincent de Paul Parish. According to the complaint, the priest abused him once a month between 1997 and 2003, beginning when he was just eight years old.

The lawsuit claims the diocese was negligent in failing to properly monitor the priest, allowing him unsupervised access to children. The complaint also alleges a broader pattern of institutional cover-up, citing findings from the 2023 Illinois Attorney General’s report, which documented clergy sexual abuse across the state and accused the diocese of protecting abusive priests while disregarding victims.

A familiar thread seen in many clergy sex abuse lawsuits is the accusation that church leaders knowingly allowed abusive priests to remain in ministry, prioritizing the institution’s reputation over the safety of children. This lawsuit follows that pattern, arguing that the diocese ignored warning signs and suppressed reports of abuse for decades. The priest named in the lawsuit was ultimately removed from the priesthood in 2006. But the complaint asserts that the diocese failed to fully disclose his history of abuse until 2018, leaving key questions unanswered.

February 23, 2025: Mediation efforts continue in the Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcy case to reach a comprehensive settlement for the 1,000 sex abuse claims. The first in-person mediation sessions took place in October and December 2024, overseen by a panel of three mediators—Judge Robert Faris, Brian Nash, and Marc Isserles. These sessions covered a wide range of issues, with the primary objective of establishing a settlement process that would provide compensation to abuse victims.

February 2, 2025:  Maryland’s Supreme Court delivered what is arguably the most consequential ruling in state history for survivors of child sexual abuse, upholding the Child Victims Act of 2023. This landmark law eliminates all time restrictions on civil claims for child sex abuse, ensuring that survivors, many of whom were previously barred from seeking justice, can now have their day in court.

In reaching its decision, the court rejected the argument that defendants have a “vested right” to avoid liability simply because an arbitrary statute of limitations had expired. Instead, the majority made clear that statutes of limitations are procedural, not substantive, and that the legislature has the authority to remove them retroactively. This ruling eliminates the biggest legal shield that churches and other institutions have relied on for far too long to escape accountability for enabling sexual abuse.

November 12, 2024: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, the only diocese in Vermont, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after paying approximately $34 million in settlements to victims of clergy sexual abuse over the past decade. While this amount is smaller than the liabilities faced by larger dioceses, such as those in Baltimore or Los Angeles, the Burlington Diocese has more limited financial resources. It had already sold assets and properties to cover previous settlements, leaving it unable to manage further financial obligations.

September 15, 2024: The Maryland Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week on an appeal that challenges the constitutionality of the state’s new law (the Child Victims Act), which eliminated the statute of limitations on all child sex abuse civil lawsuits. The new law also retroactively revived claims that were time-barred under the prior law. Opponents of the law are arguing that it violates the state constitution because it deprives defendants of a vested property right without compensation.

June 20, 2024: The deadline for sex abuse victims to file claims in the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s (AOB) bankruptcy case expired at the end of May. Just over 700 victims filed claims alleging that they were subjected to sexual abuse as a result of the AOB’s negligence and indifference. The next step in the process will be working out settlement compensation payments to these victims.

June 14, 2024:  The Augustinian Catholic order finally released its first public list of clergy members in its Chicago province deemed to be child predators, naming five men.

But these lists are so hard to trust. With this particular list, the exclusion of Rev. Richard McGrath, a former head of Providence Catholic High School, jumps off the page.  McGrath was fired after a student reported seeing a nude image of a boy on his phone. Although McGrath was investigated and later accused of raping a student, he was never charged due to lack of cooperation. The Augustinians settled a lawsuit related to McGrath for $2 million.

This case highlights a broader issue of inconsistent transparency nationally regarding clergy members accused of sexual abuse. Despite some dioceses and Catholic orders posting lists of credibly accused clergy members, many such lists remain incomplete or are not updated regularly, clouding the extent of the abuse crisis more than 20 years after it first came to public attention. This lack of comprehensive disclosure hampers efforts to ensure accountability and justice for the victims.

March 28, 2024: The Diocese of Manchester in New Hampshire has reached a settlement regarding a claim of clergy sex abuse dating back to the 1970s involving a former priest. The victim was allegedly mistreated around the age of 15 or 16 by Rev. Alfred L. Jannetta during his assignment at St. Paul’s Church in Franklin between 1973 and 1974. The allegations here are awful.   Jannetta pried the child with alcohol and marijuana before sexually abusing him. The child was also tragically sexually abused by an unnamed priest during a two-week session at Camp Fatima in Gilmanton Iron Works when he was just 8.

How much compensation did the victim receive for his sex abuse claim?  His lawyer said the settlement was in the “low six figures.”  Obviously not a lot for what this man has endured.  But the statute of limitations had passed.  There was no meaningful chance of compensation from a jury.

The Catholic Church gets warranted criticism for neglecting children like this for far too long.  In this case, it is stepping up and doing the right thing and giving a compensation payout in a case where is could have avoided responsibility.  How could victims get fair settlements in cases like this?  This state and many others like it need to change their statute of limitations in clergy abuse lawsuits as many other states have.

Sexual Abuse by Clergy and Church Members

Over the last 15 years, the extent of child sexual abuse by ministers, priests, and other members of church organizations has gained increased attention and recognition. Sex abuse and cover-up scandals within the Catholic Church, in particular, have come to light with increasing frequency. Sadly, it appears that the problem of priests sexually abusing children under their care was more extensive than most people wanted to believe.

The other hard truth that has also become increasingly clear is that the organizational leadership within many churches (especially the Catholic Church) was aware of various incidents of abuse and sought to cover them up instead of defending the victims.

When a child is sexually abused by a priest, minister, or some other church authority figure, it can have very damaging psychological effects that remain with them for the rest of their lives. Victims of childhood sex abuse by clergy carry very real and very disruptive emotional scars. Fortunately, the increased awareness of this problem has given many victims the courage to come forward and prompted changes in the law that give them the ability to hold abusive clergymen (and the churches) responsible.

Civil Lawsuits for Church Sexual Abuse

Victims of sexual abuse by priests or church members have more options available today than ever before if they want to get justice for what happened to them. In the past, victims of child sex abuse were often limited to pursuing criminal charges. Bringing a civil lawsuit for the abuse was often not an option because the abuser had no financial resources or the statute of limitations had expired.

Today, however, the legal options available to victims of clergy sexual abuse are significantly improved. In the last decade, as a majority of states in the U.S. have passed new laws making it easier for child sex abuse victims to bring civil lawsuits. For instance, 28 states have extended the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit for child sexual abuse. New York and a handful of other states have actually eliminated the statute of limitations on these claims entirely. This makes it possible for victims of childhood sex abuse to bring lawsuits years or even decades after the fact, when they are adults and better able to handle the emotional toll.

The other significant legal change has been the increased ability of victims to impose civil liability for abuse on the church or religious organizations. Filing a civil lawsuit against the individual priest or minister who committed the abuse is often pointless because they rarely have the money to pay for damages. The current trend in clergy sexual abuse lawsuits has been to hold the church accountable either as the employer of the abuser or for negligently failing to protect the children from the abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions About Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuits

What is a clergy sex abuse lawsuit, and how does it work?

A clergy sex abuse lawsuit is a civil legal claim brought by someone who was sexually abused by a priest, pastor, minister, or other member of a religious organization. These lawsuits typically name the church or religious institution as the defendant, especially when there is evidence that the institution failed to prevent the abuse or covered it up.

Rather than seeking criminal charges, a civil lawsuit focuses on compensation—money damages for the harm you have endured, which often includes emotional trauma, therapy costs, and other long-term consequences.

If you are considering a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit, you are not alone. Thousands of survivors have filed similar claims, and in many states, the law has changed to give you more time to come forward.

How do I know if I have a valid clergy abuse claim?

Every case is different, but most valid clergy sex abuse lawsuits share a few key elements:

You were sexually abused or exploited by a religious figure (such as a priest or minister).

The abuse occurred while that person was acting in their official role within the church or organization.

The institution either knew or should have known about the risk and failed to act.

Even if the abuse happened years or decades ago, you may still be eligible to file a priest sex abuse lawsuit. Many states have passed laws removing the statute of limitations, especially for child sexual abuse cases.

What is the average settlement for clergy abuse cases?

It is a common and fair question. Based on publicly reported outcomes, the average settlement for clergy abuse falls between $250,000 and $350,000. However, that figure can be misleading.

Some cases resolve for much higher amounts, especially when the abuse was severe, ongoing, or part of a pattern involving institutional cover-up. Other cases, particularly those past the statute of limitations or without strong documentation, may settle for less. The specific facts of your case matter—especially the availability of church insurance coverage, whether the priest had a known history of abuse, and the jurisdiction where the case is filed.

Will my clergy abuse lawsuit be against the individual or the church?

Almost always, your lawsuit will focus on the church or religious organization, not just the abuser. Why? Because most clergy members do not have the financial resources to pay a judgment. The larger issue is institutional negligence. How did church leadership allow the abuse to happen or fail to protect others after being warned?

Many survivors file a lawsuit against the Catholic Church or other religious organizations because those institutions had the power to intervene and chose not to. That is where accountability—and settlement compensation—usually begins.

Is there still time to file a clergy sex abuse lawsuit in my state?

In many states, yes. Over half the country has changed its laws to extend or eliminate the statute of limitations for clergy sex abuse cases. Some states, like California, New York, and Maryland, now allow survivors to file regardless of when the abuse occurred.

This is especially important for older survivors who never had a chance to seek justice. New windows of opportunity have opened up, and more are on the horizon. If you are unsure about the deadline in your state, we can help you figure that out quickly and confidentially.

How long does a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit take to resolve?

There is no single answer, but most clergy abuse lawsuits settle within 12 to 24 months. That said, some cases—especially those tied to bankruptcy proceedings or mass settlement programs—can take longer (or shorter).

If your case is part of a large group of claims against a diocese, it may be resolved through a mediation process with a fixed settlement fund. If your case is more individualized and particularly strong, it may settle quickly or proceed to trial.

Will my identity be kept confidential if I file a claim?

Yes, in most cases. The court system often allows survivors to file as John Doe or Jane Doe to protect their identity. In addition, settlements are frequently kept confidential by agreement, so your personal details will not be made public unless you choose to share them.

We understand how personal and painful these cases can be. Our legal team makes your privacy a top priority at every step.

What types of compensation can I receive in a clergy abuse settlement?

The types of damages available in clergy abuse settlements can include:

  • Mental health treatment costs
    Includes therapy, counseling, and long-term psychological care related to the abuse.

  • Pain and suffering
    Compensation for the emotional, psychological, and spiritual trauma caused by the abuse.

  • Lost income or diminished earning capacity
    Available if the abuse impacted the survivor’s ability to work, pursue education, or maintain stable employment.

  • Punitive damages (available in some states)
    Intended to punish the institution for extreme negligence or cover-ups and to deter future misconduct.

Each clergy sex abuse settlement is different. So you see settlement compensation payouts that are all over the place.  Some survivors have received over $1 million, while others recover much smaller payout amounts, even if the abuse was exactly the same. Key factors include the severity of the abuse, the evidence available, and the assets or insurance coverage of the church or religious institution involved.

Do these cases usually settle, or do they go to trial?

Most priest abuse lawsuits and other clergy claims settle before trial.  You do not see many jury verdicts in these lawsuits. The reason is simple: churches, especially the LDS church, want to avoid public trials that expose decades of misconduct. Even though many of these cases happened years ago and the abusers are long gone, the optics are still terrible for these organizations where image is everything.  If your case is well-documented, it is likely to settle, often through direct negotiations or during mediation.

So the threat of trial is what gives survivors leverage. That is why having the best clergy abuse lawyer who knows how to build a strong, trial-ready case makes such a difference.

Can I file a lawsuit if the priest is deceased or was never criminally charged?

Yes. The civil justice system is different from the criminal justice system. You can file a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit even if:

1. The abuser has died

2. No criminal charges were ever filed

3. You never told anyone at the time of the abuse

Your story still matters, and your right to compensation does not depend on whether there was a conviction. Many of the most successful Catholic Church lawsuits involved clergy members who were never prosecuted but whose abuse was part of a known pattern.

What does it cost to file a clergy abuse lawsuit?

There is no upfront cost. Our law firm represents survivors on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we recover money for you. We cover all litigation expenses up front, including court costs, investigations, and expert fees.

If you are thinking about pursuing a clergy sex abuse lawsuit, there is no financial risk in speaking with us or getting a second opinion.

What is happening now with Catholic Church lawsuits in 2025?

Several major dioceses, including Baltimore, Burlington, and Peoria, are currently involved in bankruptcy cases or facing large volumes of new claims under updated laws. The Catholic Church lawsuits filed this year reflect a national trend: more survivors are coming forward, and the legal system is evolving to support them.

In many ways, 2025 is one of the most important years yet for accountability, as courts uphold survivor-friendly legislation and public pressure continues to mount.

Organizational Defendants in Clergy Sex Abuse Civil Lawsuits

Victims who bring successful clergy sex abuse lawsuits against the church or religious organization will be entitled to receive financial compensation for what happened to them. Victims of clergy sex abuse are entitled to various types of civil damages, which include:

  • Medical Expenses: clergy sex abuse victims are entitled to compensation for the cost of all past and future medical expenses that are incurred as a direct result of the abuse. This often includes the cost of a lifetime of mental health counseling or related treatment.
  • Pain & Suffering: this is usually a big-ticket item in sex abuse cases because mental and emotional pain & suffering are obviously significant consequences of abuse.
  • Lost Income: if a plaintiff can show that the sexual abuse and resulting mental suffering caused them to make less money during their lifetime, they may be entitled to recover damages for this.
  • Punitive Damages: in some states, victims may be able to impose punitive damages on defendants in clergy sex abuse cases.

Since 2007, religious institutions in the United States have paid an estimated $3.5 billion in financial compensation to victims of child sexual abuse.

Church Sex Abuse Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

Bringing a civil lawsuit for clergy sexual abuse can be stressful and very emotional for most victims. Before they decide whether to put themselves through the pain of a lawsuit, most victims want to know how much compensation they can reasonably expect and what their chances of winning will be.

Civil lawsuits involving sexual abuse by priests or church members tend to have very high potential value as long as there are no legal obstacles to the claim (e.g., the statute of limitations) and there is a viable religious organization to name as a defendant. Based on prior verdicts and reported settlements, the average value of a good clergy sexual abuse lawsuit is around $275,000 to $350,000. Depending on the circumstances of the cases, however, the value can potentially be much higher.  It is not uncommon to see settlements in the millions.  The average settlement is misleading because there are many settlements in cases that are past the statute of limitations, and the average payouts in those cases are markedly lower.

The other good thing about clergy sex abuse lawsuits is that they tend to settle more frequently than other types of cases. If the plaintiff has valid claims (i.e., there is reliable evidence that the alleged abuse actually occurred) most churches will be very eager to settle and avoid negative publicity. These cases very rarely go to trial.

Some religious organizations, such as the Catholic Church, get sued so frequently in sex abuse cases that they treat these more like insurance claims than civil lawsuits. For example, in many large cities, the Catholic Archdiocese has retained third-party administrators to process and settle incoming sex abuse lawsuits.

What Is The Average Settlement For Clergy Abuse?

The average settlement payout for a civil case involving clergy sexual abuse is between $250,000 to $350,000. The median settlement payout in clergy sex abuse cases is somewhat lower.

But this is a wildly misleading statistic.  Why? Because smaller churches without resources bring the settlement average way down.

Religious Organization Defendants in Recent Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Most of the public attention has been focused on sexual abuse lawsuits against the Catholic Church. This is certainly well deserved as the Catholic Archdiocese in the U.S. has paid an estimated $2.9 billion in compensation to sexual abuse victims.

This accounts for over 80% of all compensation paid by religious organizations in sex abuse lawsuits. Although the Catholic Church is certainly the frontrunner, they are certainly not the only religious institution that is regularly named in sex abuse lawsuits. Below are major religious institutions that have been the target of sexual abuse litigation recently:

Royal Rangers / Assemblies of God

The Royal Rangers is like a Christian version of the Boy Scouts run by the Assemblies of God Church. The Rangers have recently been the subject of a growing number of sex abuse lawsuits by former members of the programs who alleged that they were sexually abused as children while they were scouts. The Royal Ranger troop leaders accused of the assault were previously convicted criminally.

Archdiocese of Los Angeles

In 2007, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles paid $660 million to settle the claims of 500 victims who alleged that they were sexually abused by clergy members. 220 individual clergy members from the L.A. diocese were identified as committing acts of abuse.

Archdiocese of Pittsburgh

In 2020, the Catholic Archdiocese of Pittsburgh paid $19.2 million in compensation to resolve the claims of 224 victims who made “credible” claims of sexual abuse at the hands of clergy members in the Pittsburgh area.

Where We Are With Sex Abuse and the Catholic Church in 2025?

Progress has been made in dealing with sex abuse in 2025.  The Church wants to do the right thing and return to its mission of advancing the word of God.  But despite the Catholic Church’s development of robust anti-abuse protocols, notably after the historic summit called by Pope Francis in 2019, there remains a significant gap in their full application. Because the local churches can really do what they want, there is a lack of a monitoring mechanism to ensure these rules are implemented globally.

This discrepancy in application leads to inconsistencies in how bishops across different regions respond to abuse cases, with some resigning due to dysfunctions while others do not, raising questions about the application of sanctions. The challenge is compounded by a lack of transparency and procedural clarity in handling cases of non-reporting bishops, underscoring a need for a change in attitude alongside the new legislation that gives victims a chance to seek justice.

Contact Us About Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuits

If you were the victim of clergy sex sexual abuse and want to file a sex abuse lawsuit, we can help.   Contact us today at 800-553-8082 or tell us about your case online.

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