Colorado Priests Accused of Abuse

The United States has a history of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Numerous religious centers and organizations have been accused of abuse, with many including cases of child sex abuse. This history of sexual and physical abuse extends to all 50 states, including Colorado.

More than 50 Catholic Church priests have been accused of sexual abuse or misconduct in Colorado, affecting hundreds of children between the 1950s and 2020s.

Colorado Catholic Diocese Priest Sex Abuse List

Archdiocese of Denver CO

Prosper Bemunuge

• Settled

During a counseling session in 1988, Prosper Bemunuge was accused of inappropriate conduct involving various sexual acts with an adult female. An out-of-court settlement was reached in 1989. Originally from the Diocese of Kandy in Sri Lanka, he had been serving in the United States and previously worked within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis before his time connected to Denver.

Edward Fraczkowski

• Accused

First raised to the archdiocese in 2015, allegations stated Edward Fraczkowski sexually abused a minor girl between 1967 and 1969 while he served as pastor of St. Michael’s in Craig, Colorado. He was publicly named in the Colorado Attorney General’s report dated October 22, 2019. Fraczkowski died in 1978.

Thomas Patrick Barry

• Sued

A civil lawsuit alleged that Thomas Patrick Barry sexually abused a woman around 1970 while he served within the Archdiocese of Denver. The claim proceeded through civil court rather than a criminal case. Barry died in 2003 at age ninety-seven.

Robert Banigan

• Accused

Public identification came in the Colorado Attorney General’s report dated October 22, 2019, which listed Robert Banigan as accused. Allegations stated he sexually abused a minor altar server in 1961. Banigan died in 1986, and the disclosure occurred decades after the alleged conduct.

Leonard A. Abercrombie

• Settled

A letter received in 1993 alleged Leonard A. Abercrombie abused a boy beginning in the 1950s, with later disclosures indicating at least nine men made similar allegations. The matter was addressed through settlement rather than criminal prosecution, and his name remained associated with multiple claims spanning decades.

Joseph J. Bosetti

• Accused

Serving as a monsignor with senior administrative duties, Joseph J. Bosetti was accused of abusing a teenage boy while he was chancellor and director of the cathedral boys choir. The allegations concerned conduct during that period of leadership and were handled through church and disclosure processes rather than criminal conviction.

Charles C. Brown

• Accused

Named publicly in the Colorado Attorney General’s report dated October 22, 2019, Charles C. Brown denied the allegations of sexual abuse. He was later included on the Archdiocese of Santa Fe’s list in 2021, reflecting cross-jurisdiction disclosure. No criminal conviction is recorded in the information provided.

Rafael Jairo Calle

• Accused

Rafael Jairo Calle, an extern priest from Ecuador, was publicly named in the Colorado Attorney General’s report dated October 22, 2019. Allegations involved sexual abuse of two teenage boys, including claims tied to incidents occurring in a car. The matter is presented as an accused case rather than a criminal conviction.

Mark A. Clark

• Accused

Publicly identified as accused by the Jesuits Central and Southern Province, Mark A. Clark left the Jesuit order in 1989. The allegation status remained associated with his religious-order affiliation rather than a diocesan clergy assignment, and the outcome was departure from the order rather than court disposition.

Wilfred Laurent Carignan

• Convicted

Wilfred Laurent Carignan, described as a monk-in-training who was not accepted into the order, was convicted of abusing a youth while working at St. Benedict’s Monastery. The case concluded with criminal conviction, distinguishing it from matters resolved solely through internal church processes.

Dorino De Lazzer

• Accused

A woman alleged that Dorino De Lazzer engaged in sexual misconduct during the early 1970s. By the time the allegation surfaced, he was a retired priest, and he denied the claim. The information provided reflects an accused status without a criminal conviction or civil settlement identified.

Timothy Joseph Evans

• Convicted

Charged with sexually abusing three teenage boys, Timothy Joseph Evans was removed from active ministry and convicted in two trials. He received a sentence of fourteen years to life in prison and was laicized. Parole decisions fell between 2019 and 2020, including a denial in December 2019 and a grant of parole in July 2020.

Bennett Colucci

• Accused
  

A woman reported that Bennett Colucci sexually abused her during the 1980s, prompting investigation by the Archdiocese of Denver and the Capuchin Franciscans. Colucci retired in 2005. The matter is framed through allegation and internal inquiry rather than a documented criminal case.

Kenneth Q. Funk

• Accused

Kenneth Q. Funk was publicly identified as credibly accused of abusing a minor altar server in two incidents, dated 1959 and 1962. The disclosures focused on those specific years and did not include a criminal court outcome in the information provided.

Marshall Gourley

• Sued

A civil lawsuit filed in 1997 alleged that Marshall Gourley sexually abused a teenage boy at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. The case was dismissed in 1998 because the statute of limitations had expired. The allegations proceeded through civil court and ended without a trial verdict.

Neil C. Hewitt

• Accused

Neil C. Hewitt admitted to inappropriate actions involving multiple boys and was laicized in 2018. He had served as a seminarian at Camp St. Malo in 1958, and later statements referenced conduct involving around eight or nine boys, including a deaf child. The record reflects acknowledgment and laicization rather than a criminal conviction.

Richard Hiester

• Accused

Monsignor Richard Hiester was accused of abusing a young altar server in the 1970s, beginning when the child was six. The allegations also included claims that additional clergy abused the same victim over a ten-year period. The information provided does not describe a criminal conviction or civil settlement for Hiester.

Daniel Kelleher

• Accused

Daniel Kelleher was publicly named by the Colorado Attorney General as credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor girl in 1962. The disclosure placed the allegation within a specific year and followed investigative reporting rather than a criminal court conviction.

John V. Holloway

• Accused

John V. Holloway was publicly named for alleged abuse involving multiple boys over an extended period. The Colorado Attorney General’s report described conduct spanning decades and criticized the archdiocese’s handling of complaints in the 1990s and early 2000s. The information provided does not include a criminal conviction or sentencing outcome.

Richard James Kurtz

• Convicted

Arrested in 2001 for sexually assaulting a minor boy, Richard James Kurtz pleaded guilty and later faced federal charges related to illegal images involving minors. He was sentenced in 2012 and has been incarcerated in federal prison since 2014 on charges including production, transportation, and possession of child pornography.

Delisle Lemieux

• Accused

Delisle Lemieux was named publicly in the Colorado Attorney General’s report dated October 22, 2019. Allegations involved abuse of a teenage altar server, and the case is presented as accused without a documented criminal conviction in the information provided.

John J. McGinn

• Accused

An allegation of sexual abuse was raised in 1994 against John J. McGinn, and he remained in ministry for a period afterward. The summary reflects the allegation date and continued ministry status, without a listed criminal disposition or civil settlement.

Mark N. Matson

• Convicted

Mark N. Matson was convicted in 2000 of sexual assault involving a thirteen-year-old boy and received a twenty-year prison sentence. Additional allegations surfaced in 2005 regarding abuse in 1982, and a civil lawsuit filed in 2010 alleged abuse at a Colorado seminary in 1976, extending the timeline of reported conduct.

William Martinez

• Accused

William Martinez was publicly accused of abusing a teenage boy in Colorado Springs. He was placed on leave, had faculties removed, and was sent to treatment before resigning from ministry in 1996. He was later laicized, marking a permanent end to clerical status.

Edward P. Murphy

• Accused

Named publicly by the Jesuits Central and Southern Province in 2018, Edward P. Murphy faced allegations received after his death. The reported abuse related to incidents in the 1940s and 1950s. Murphy died in 1975, and the disclosure occurred decades later through religious-order listing.

James S. Moreno

• Sued

Publicly named in the Colorado Attorney General’s report in 2020, James S. Moreno admitted to sexually abusing a teenage boy multiple times during 1978 to 1980. He was laicized in 2019, and the allegations proceeded through civil litigation as part of the case history presented.

Patrick Henry O’Liddy

• Convicted

Patrick Henry O’Liddy pleaded guilty to sending an inappropriate image of himself to a minor online. He was sentenced to ten years of probation and two hundred hours of community service, resolving the criminal matter through plea and sentencing.

J. Bart Nadal

• Accused

Charged in 1989 with molestation involving two young sisters aged seven and eight, J. Bart Nadal was acquitted. Despite the case, he held senior clerical leadership roles, including rector of St. Andrew’s Seminary in Denver, and the outcome remained an acquittal rather than conviction.

Michael J. O’Brien

• Reinstated

Placed on leave in September 2021 after an allegation involving an altar boy, Michael J. O’Brien was later reinstated to ministry after the archdiocese concluded its investigation found the claim unfounded. A civil trial scheduled in connection with the allegation was canceled in July 2023.

James W. Rasby

• Accused

Monsignor James W. Rasby served as rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for about twenty years. In 1975, a thirteen-year-old reported genital fondling by Rasby, who later acknowledged wrongdoing in a note. In 1990, another teen alleged unwanted kissing. Rasby denied parts of the claim, received outpatient treatment, and remained in ministry. He retired in 1995 and died in July 2014.

Francis A. Pettit

• Accused

A report of abuse involving a minor girl surfaced in 1989 concerning Francis A. Pettit. Pettit had already died by 1989, with his death occurring earlier in 1987. The case record reflects posthumous disclosure rather than adjudication.

Leonard Scezney

• Accused

Leonard Scezney was accused of abusing a teenage girl in the mid-1980s while connected to parish youth group activities. His faculties were removed in 1992 by the archdiocese. The information provided does not list criminal charges or a civil settlement outcome.

Gregory Smith

• Settled

Gregory Smith, a monsignor, was named publicly as credibly accused in a supplemental Attorney General report. The allegations described repeated abuse of a boy during the early 1970s, and the matter concluded through settlement rather than criminal prosecution.

John Harley Schmitt

• Accused

John Harley Schmitt, a monsignor, was named publicly in the Colorado Attorney General’s report. An allegation that he abused a girl at age eight or nine was reviewed by the archdiocese and deemed not credible by its conduct response process. No criminal conviction is recorded in the information provided.

Lawrence H. St. Peter

• Settled

Over multiple decades, Lawrence H. St. Peter was accused of abusing children, including rape. A victim later spoke publicly about years of abuse culminating in rape at age eight in 1982. St. Peter died in 2003, and the claims were resolved through settlement rather than criminal prosecution.

John Francis Stein

• Convicted

John Francis Stein was accused of repeated abuse of a boy over several years beginning in the 1950s. A civil claim connected to the allegations was settled in 1996 under a confidentiality agreement. The case is presented here as a convicted matter alongside the civil resolution.

Melvin F. Thompson

• Reinstated

Removed from ministry in 2010 after allegations dating to the 1970s involving a minor boy, Melvin F. Thompson denied the claims. The matter proceeded through review, and he was later reinstated to ministry under archdiocesan authority, without a listed criminal conviction.

George L. Weibel

• Accused
  

George L. Weibel was named publicly in the Colorado Attorney General’s report. A woman alleged that when she was ten years old in 1959, Weibel touched her inappropriately. The disclosure reflects an accused status, with no criminal conviction noted in the information provided.

Thomas Woerth

• Accused

An allegation was received that Thomas Woerth sexually abused a male high school student in 1971, 1972, and 1973. Woerth denied the claim. The matter is presented as an accused case without a listed criminal verdict or civil settlement.

Charles B. Woodrich

• Accused

Charles B. Woodrich, a monsignor known for founding a homeless shelter, was publicly named in a supplemental Attorney General report. Allegations involved abuse of multiple boys, with reported victims aged twelve to sixteen, and the conduct was described as occurring during the 1970s and 1980s.

Harold Robert White

• Settled

At least thirty individuals alleged sexual abuse by Harold Robert White during childhood. Information provided stated church leadership had prior knowledge of concerning behavior dating back to the 1960s while he remained in ministry. The claims were resolved through settlement rather than criminal prosecution.

Robert Whipkey

• Sued

A 1998 lawsuit alleged Robert Whipkey behaved inappropriately with minor boys during a church trip, including sharing a cabin with sixth-grade boys and applying shaving cream while naked. Additional allegations described abuse of a boy between 1979 and 1989 involving two other priests and intimidation to prevent disclosure.

Diocese of Pueblo CO

John R. Beno

• Accused

Public identification occurred with the release of the Colorado Attorney General’s report on October 23, 2019. John R. Beno was accused of sexually abusing a five-year-old girl in 1961. He denied knowing the child. The Diocese of Pueblo later resolved the allegation through a settlement. No criminal prosecution is recorded, and the allegation surfaced decades after the reported conduct.

Delbert F. Blong

• Settled

Known as Monsignor Delbert F. Blong, he was accused of sexually abusing a boy beginning in 1971, with alleged misconduct continuing for more than twenty years. Civil claims were resolved through settlement. Blong disputed the allegations and filed a countersuit. The matter proceeded through civil channels rather than criminal court, with no conviction recorded.

Leo Bonfadini

• Accused

An allegation received by the Diocese of Pueblo in 1994 asserted that Leo Bonfadini sexually abused a seventeen-year-old boy while assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. After being confronted, he stated he had made regrettable decisions and was sent to St. Luke Institute for treatment, then voluntarily relinquished his faculties in May 1995. He later worked in civilian roles including the U.S. Air Force and nonprofit counseling. He denied the allegation in October 2019 and was publicly named in the Colorado Attorney General’s report dated October 22, 2019.

Walter P. Buetzler

• Accused

Originally from Germany, Walter P. Buetzler was accused of sexually abusing an eleven-year-old boy while assigned to St. Joseph’s Parish in Monte Vista. He returned to Germany in 1968 and remained there for the rest of his life. Buetzler died in 1988. The allegation surfaced long after his departure from the Diocese of Pueblo.

Andrew A. Burke

• Settled

Diocesan records reflect concerns regarding Andrew A. Burke’s conduct as early as 1968. A former altar boy reported abuse in 2004 and filed a civil lawsuit in 2005, alleging abuse occurring when he was between eleven and thirteen years old in the early 1970s. The claim was resolved through settlement rather than criminal proceedings.

Meinrad Richard Chung

• Sued

Originally from Hawaii, Meinrad Richard Chung taught religion at St. Mary’s High School in Colorado Springs for four years. In 1992, he was accused of inappropriate touching of a male student and was informed that the diocese had opened an investigation. Chung died by suicide on March 20, 1992, one day later. In 2004, a civil lawsuit alleged he sexually abused a fourteen-year-old student in 1982 at Holy Cross Abbey in Cañon City.

Bernard J. Casper

• Sued

Bernard J. Casper was accused by multiple individuals of sexually abusing children over an extended period. In 2002, two brothers reported abuse. In 2006 and again in 2009, the Diocese of Pueblo requested that Casper pursue laicization. He refused both requests and denied all allegations. Civil litigation proceeded without a criminal conviction.

Michael C. DeScoise

• Accused

Michael C. DeScoise was accused of sexually abusing a fourteen-year-old boy in 1986 or 1987 while assigned to St. Joseph’s Parish in Grand Junction. In 2016, his faculties were suspended after he admitted to engaging in sexual activity involving adults. No criminal prosecution related to the allegation involving the minor is recorded.

William Groves

• Convicted

William Groves took in runaway Native American and Hispanic youth during his ministry. In 1989, he was convicted of assault involving a fourteen-year-old boy. He received a sentence that included jail time and probation. Following the conviction, Groves left the priesthood. His case represents one of the few criminal convictions among Pueblo clergy cases.

William Thomas Gleeson

• Accused

William Thomas Gleeson was publicly named as accused in the Colorado Attorney General’s report dated October 22, 2019. He denied the allegation and was sent to counseling but remained in ministry. Gleeson continued serving until his death on February 7, 2018. No criminal charges or civil settlements are recorded.

Lucas A. Galvan

• Convicted

Lucas Antonia Galvan Valdez, a priest from Mexico, pleaded guilty in 1989 to inappropriate contact with an eleven-year-old girl. He received a suspended sentence and deferred adjudication. Afterward, he continued clerical work in other dioceses in Mexico. His conviction occurred within the criminal justice system rather than solely through church proceedings.

Marvin J. Kapushion

• Accused

Monsignor Marvin J. Kapushion was named as credibly accused by the Colorado Attorney General. The allegation involved sexual abuse of a teenage boy during a Christmas gathering at Kapushion’s residence in 1984. No criminal charges are documented. Public disclosure occurred decades after the alleged incident.

Gary L. Kennedy

• Accused

Gary L. Kennedy was accused of sexually abusing a boy between the ages of thirteen and fifteen from 1967 to 1969. He was publicly named in the Colorado Attorney General’s report. Kennedy retired from active ministry in 2011 and was assisting at a Pueblo parish at the time the allegation became public.

Conan Lee

• Accused

Conan Lee, a Franciscan friar, was publicly identified as accused by the Franciscan Santa Barbara Province when it released its list on May 31, 2019. He died on August 3, 1978. The allegation surfaced long after his death, and no legal proceedings occurred during his lifetime.

Michael Kurz

• Settled

Ordained in 1975, Michael Kurz served in the Diocese of Pueblo for more than twenty years before later incardination into the Diocese of Rockford, where he served as Judicial Vicar. A lawsuit filed in 2008 alleged sexual abuse of a boy at Christ the King Church in Pueblo beginning around 1976. Although a diocesan review deemed the allegation unfounded, at least two civil claims were later resolved through settlement. No criminal charges are recorded.

Daniel C. Maio

• Settled

Daniel C. Maio was accused of sexually abusing a fifteen-year-old boy between 1968 and 1969 while serving as Diocesan Youth Director and leading a SEARCH program at St. Patrick’s Parish. The claim was addressed through civil settlement. No criminal prosecution is documented.

Philip Marin

• Accused

Philip Marin was publicly named as accused in the Colorado Attorney General’s report dated October 22, 2019. He was accused of sexually abusing a young girl, age five or six, in 1956 or 1957. Marin died in 1976. The allegation was raised posthumously.

John F. Martin

• Settled

John F. Martin was accused alongside Andrew A. Burke of sexually assaulting a male employee at St. Pius X Parish in the early 1970s, including incidents occurring before the individual turned eighteen. The allegation was reported to the diocese in 2006, with no indication of investigation or law enforcement referral at that time. A civil lawsuit was filed in October 2009 and later settled. Martin died in 1974 and was included in the Colorado Attorney General’s 2019 Special Masters Report.

John G. O’Flaherty

• Sued

John G. O’Flaherty served in clerical roles in Ohio, Missouri, and Colorado. He was named as an abuser in an amended civil complaint filed in Pueblo in March 2011. O’Flaherty died on June 19, 1987. The allegation emerged decades after his death.

William C. Mueller

• Settled

William C. Mueller was a Marianist brother of the St. Louis Province who professed vows in 1957 and worked in Missouri, Texas, and Colorado. He left the order in 1986. He was accused of abusing numerous students between the 1960s and 1980s. Civil claims were resolved through settlement.

Clifford A. Norman

• Accused

Clifford A. Norman was publicly named as accused in 1998 for sexually abusing an altar boy. He denied the allegation. Norman left the Diocese of Pueblo in 1975. No criminal charges or civil settlements are documented.

Joseph A. Reade

• Settled

Joseph A. Reade was named in the Colorado Attorney General’s report as an accused abuser. The Diocese of Pueblo reached a settlement with the reporting individual, who indicated the possibility of additional victims. Reade denied the allegation and died in 1990. No criminal case is recorded.

Gerald Duane Repola

• Accused

In December 2019, a man reported to the Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program that Gerald Duane Repola sexually abused him in 1967 when he was fourteen to fifteen years old, during Repola’s assignment at Immaculate Heart of Mary. Records reflect multiple short parish assignments, a chaplaincy, placement on leave in 1971 with counseling, and removal from ministry. He was publicly named as credibly accused in the Colorado Attorney General’s supplemental report on December 1, 2020, and died on March 5, 1971, at age thirty-three.

Lawrence Sievers

• Accused

Lawrence Sievers was assigned in 1969 to St. Joseph’s Parish in Grand Junction and also served as a temporary hospital chaplain. A woman later reported to a diocesan employee that Sievers sexually abused her. The allegation did not result in criminal proceedings.

Barnabus Stelzner

• Sued

Barnabus Stelzner was sued in 1997. He and others were accused of sexual and physical abuse of a fifteen-year-old boy at Holy Cross Abbey during 1982 and 1983. The case proceeded through civil litigation rather than criminal court.

Carlos B. Trujillo

• Accused

A man reported to the Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program that Carlos B. Trujillo sexually abused him when he was sixteen to seventeen years old during 1978 and 1979. No criminal charges are documented, and the allegation emerged decades after the reported conduct.

Joseph J. Walsh

• Accused

Monsignor Joseph J. Walsh was publicly named as credibly accused by the Colorado Attorney General in a supplemental report released December 1, 2020. Allegations involved sexual abuse of children at Sacred Heart Orphanage during the 1950s. No criminal prosecution is recorded.

About Clergy Abuse by Church Officials

Clergy sexual abuse includes sexually abusing or exploiting a clergy member or child through misuse of power. Those sexually abused in the Catholic Church typically include children and vulnerable adults.

Reporting sexual abuse by Catholic priests and clergy members can be difficult, especially when the abuse began or occurred many decades ago. However, reporting clergy sexual abuse brings light to an important problem and sets the path for others to also come forward for healing.

Those abused by Colorado priests may be eligible for criminal and civil claims. The Colorado legal system is set up to help those sexually abused seek justice.

Legal Support for Child Sex Abuse Survivors in Colorado

Injury Lawyer Team has the expertise and experience needed to handle sensitive clergy sexual abuse lawsuits. We offer a free, confidential consultation, in-depth case investigation, and guidance as you navigate the state’s legal system. We’re committed to serving justice and tearing down the foundation of Catholic Church abuse.

What Laws Govern Priest Abuse Lawsuits in Colorado?

Colorado laws aim to protect current and future members from being sexually assaulted in the church. They also aim to serve justice for those who have been the victims of abuse.

Statutes for Childhood Sexual Abuse

Colorado law considers clergy sexual misconduct a Class 3 or Class 4 felony charge, which is subject to life in prison, requires registration on the Sex Offender Intensive Supervision Program, and fines up to $500,000.

Prosecutors have 20 years from the child’s 18th birthday to bring sexual assault charges involving a child. There is no statute of limitations regarding civil suits.

Mandatory Reporting

Mandatory reporting laws legally require people in various professions to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Mandatory reporters are often teachers, healthcare professionals, childcare workers, and anyone who is in contact with children. The report must be filed within 24 hours of suspecting neglect or abuse. Failing to make the report can result in criminal charges.

Victim advocates are no longer required to report abuse or neglect, including child sex abuse. Legislation specifically excludes them as mandated reporters because Colorado wants people to feel comfortable seeking their services without fearing a report will be made.

A free consultation with a clergy sexual abuse lawyer is the best way to find out if your case is still within the state’s statute of limitations.

Filing a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Catholic Priests in Colorado

A sexual abuse lawsuit allows Colorado victims and survivors to collect the compensation they’re entitled to. Filing a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit in Colorado involves the following steps:

• Free Confidential Consultation – A free consultation with Injury Lawyer Team allows child sex abuse victims to learn more about their legal options. With a free case review, there’s no obligation to you.
• Case Investigation – During the case investigation, your legal team will collect evidence and review the details of the child sex abuse case. Evidence may include witness reports, testimonies, personal recollections, or parish reports. It may include reports from other child sex abuse victims, too.
• Review Offer – When credibly accused, some dioceses may be willing to offer a settlement to avoid additional publicity. Our legal team has the expertise and compassion necessary to review any offers you might receive and help you choose the best legal route.
• Prepare for Trial – We’re also prepared to represent you in a trial where you can bring light to the childhood sexual abuse that was present in many of Colorado’s churches.

Contact Injury Lawyer Team today to explore your legal options or to file a clergy sexual abuse case.

Support Resources for Survivors in Colorado

Support services are crucial when overcoming sexual assault or abuse, especially from the Colorado Springs diocese or the Denver Archdiocese. Even in cases when victims were sexually abused decades ago, it can leave a lasting psychological impact on them and their families. There are many support resources available to Colorado survivors, including the following:

• Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA): CCASA maintains a collection of crisis centers throughout the state of Colorado.
• The Blue Bench: The Blue Bench serves and supports sexual abuse survivors in Metro Denver.
• Survivor Space: Survivor Space helps active Colorado Catholic Clergy abuse victims by connecting them to resources.
• Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP): The SNAP program is a support group specifically designed for men and women who were sexually abused by priests or church officials.

Notable Cases and Outcomes in Colorado

Millions of dollars have already been paid out in settlements to victims who were sexually abused in the Pueblo Diocese, Denver Archdiocese, or Colorado Springs Diocese. Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse undergo investigation and, if found guilty, may be subject to both criminal and civil charges.

In 2019, Colorado’s attorney general conducted an investigation into priest abuse, finding at least 43 priests with multiple alleged victims. In 2020, the Colorado attorney general’s office released nine additional accused priests in addition to the 43 already listed from 2019.

A history of alleged abuse and sexual misconduct can be found at many Colorado churches and religious organizations. The sexual assault allegations also extend beyond that of the Catholic Dioceses and include a Pueblo orphanage and homeless shelter. One of the most notable cases was Father Charles Woodrich, a Denver Archdiocese member known for supporting the homeless.

The attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team have reviewed public and private settlement data related to Colorado clergy abuse settlements. Depending on the circumstances of your case, these cases may be fairly valued in the $400,000 to $950,000 range. In cases of extreme conduct or cases that go before a jury, damages could exceed $1 million.

Why Choose Injury Lawyer Team

Criminal charges allow victims to inform law enforcement and serve criminal justice. Those convicted of sexually abusing children may also be required to register with the Colorado sex offender registry, also helping to prevent future cases of sexual abuse. Civil claims help victims recover compensation for the psychological and physical abuse they had to endure as children.

Injury Lawyer Team is committed to providing Colorado’s victims a compassionate yet justice-serving approach to clergy sexual abuse. A proven track record highlights our legal team’s experience in protecting victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

Many Catholic Churches in Colorado have a lengthy history of childhood sexual abuse. Injury Lawyer Team is here to help survivors seek justice and collect the compensation they need to assist with recovery.

Whether seeking justice from the Denver or Pueblo dioceses for covering up sexual abuse reports or a Catholic priest for sexual misconduct, our legal team has the experience you need when navigating this case type. Contact our sexual abuse law firm today.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.