What to Do If Your Child Was Abused by a Priest

Clergy abuse has been a major problem in the United States for decades, including the widespread Catholic church abuse scandal. As a parent, imagining a worse scenario for your child may be impossible. It is crucial to know what to do if your child was abused by a priest.

Child abuse has ruined the lives of many minors due to abusive acts by priests. These victims often face decades of emotional suffering and psychological torment because of their experiences.

If a priest has victimized your child, the Injury Lawyer Team will provide compassionate legal support to guide you through the civil claims process. Although financial compensation cannot heal the hurt your family is experiencing, it can secure a future for your child.

In this guide, we will examine the signs of child abuse, reporting the abuse, and pursuing a civil lawsuit to hold the at-fault parties accountable for your child’s suffering.

What Are the Physical and Emotional Signs of Priest Abuse?

In many circles, a priest is one of the most respected figures in a person’s life. Their wisdom is invaluable, especially for a child learning about the world.

However, when the wrong person is placed in this position of trust, it can have devastating consequences for their victims. Learning to recognize the warning signs of priest abuse could help you identify an abusive individual and protect children from further harm.

Physical signs of child sexual abuse by a priest may include:

• Bruises
• Unexplained injuries
• Pain or bleeding in the genital area
• Trouble sleeping
• Medical complaints with no apparent cause

A child may also display emotional and behavioral changes if they are being groomed or abused by a priest, such as:

• Withdrawal from people and activities
• Fear of being around or alone with certain adults
• Sudden mood changes
• Anxiety
• Depression

If you observe any of these indicators, it is not a clear indication of clergy abuse. However, if you notice a pattern of these changes or that there are multiple symptoms, it could be due to unwanted sexual acts between an adult and your child.

How to Report Abuse Involving a Priest

If you suspect child abuse involving a priest, your top priority should be to report the abuse to the relevant authorities. If the child is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 to speak to the local police department. You should also contact your local Child Protective Services agency to initiate an investigation and ensure your child’s safety.

Many survivors and their parents will report the abuse to their local diocese or church. This can be a helpful solution, but it should be used only after contacting the civil authorities. Unfortunately, many churches and religious orders prioritize protecting their members, so there is no guarantee the church will take appropriate action to discipline the priest or report him to the authorities.

Are Clergy Members Mandatory Reporters?

Mandatory reporting laws require people in certain professional or volunteer roles to report suspected child abuse to state authorities. Members of the clergy are typically included in the list of mandated reporters, so church officials are required to take action if they observe signs of abuse or hear accounts of mistreatment.

There is much debate about the relationship between mandatory reports of child abuse and the act of confession. Some states still allow an exception for mandated reporters if the abuse is revealed during a confession, but many states are eliminating this statute.

How Long After the Priest Abuse Occurred Can Victims Take Legal Action?

If child abuse occurs, the victim and their family must understand the clergy abuse statute of limitations in their state. Some states have more flexible deadlines for victims of child abuse, allowing them to pursue legal action decades after their experiences. Other jurisdictions are slightly stricter, allowing civil lawsuits only a few years after the victim’s 18th birthday.

When you are considering a civil lawsuit for child abuse within the Catholic church or another religious organization, consult an experienced attorney in your state to better understand the relevant statute of limitations.

What Types of Damages Can Victims Recover in Child Abuse Claims?

Child abuse by a priest may be grounds for a civil lawsuit. The purpose of this legal action is to hold the at-fault parties accountable and pursue fair compensation for the victim. The compensation is based on the type of legal damages caused by the child abuse.

The more a child suffers from the misconduct, the larger the settlement may be with the help of an experienced clergy abuse lawyer. Let’s look at the primary legal damages that could affect the settlement negotiations.

Medical Expenses

Abuse by a priest, especially if it involves children, could have significant physical consequences for the victim. The more violent the behavior, the more likely it is to cause bodily injuries. If the victim incurs medical costs for treatment, such as surgery, emergency room visits, medications, rehabilitation, or mental health services, these expenses can be covered by the settlement.

Emotional Distress

The most impactful consequence of child abuse is often emotional distress. This type of suffering can take many forms, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, self-harm, withdrawal, aggression, and suicide ideation. These non-economic losses can be used to increase the size of the payout due to the impact of emotional distress on the victim’s life.

Pain and Suffering

Physical injuries can also cause significant pain for the child. Depending on the type of abuse, the child may suffer chronic pain in their genital area. Additionally, if surgery is required as part of the treatment, the procedure-related pain may be included in the claim.

Disability and Disfigurement

The severity of the child abuse may result in permanent alterations to the victim’s appearance or abilities. In that case, disability and disfigurement may be potential losses the lawyer can include in the damage assessment to increase compensation.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

The trauma resulting from abuse by a priest can affect the victim’s ability to experience joy. Many victims face lifelong depression or other mental health challenges that make their lives more difficult. If your child now struggles to laugh and experience joy to the same level after the abuse, loss of enjoyment of life could be considered as a non-economic loss.

Punitive Damages

In a case involving gross negligence or reckless conduct, a judge or jury may award punitive damages to the victim. This is additional compensation intended to punish the defendant further.

What Challenges Commonly Arise in Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Cases?

The Catholic Church is a worldwide organization with a very clear hierarchy. Even going up against the local diocese in a lawsuit can pit you against an organization with vast resources and a track record of protecting abusive priests.

You may encounter numerous challenges if you attempt to sue the at-fault priest, parish, or diocese for child abuse. Missing records can lead to a lack of evidence regarding past complaints against a specific priest. The diocese officials and even lawyers may attack your child’s credibility, using their youth and inexperience to their advantage.

The impact of trauma can also make it difficult for priest abuse survivors to handle the intensity of a court appearance or deposition, leading to questions about the victim’s authenticity.

The Catholic Church also has a long history of concealing priest abuse from parishioners and law enforcement agencies. In many cases, the Catholic Church would simply reassign the accused priest to another parish, away from the congregation he served.

Then the priest would continue to abuse children, just in a new location. There are also barriers in some states due to the clergy-penitent privilege, which excludes confessions from mandated-reporter statutes.

For these reasons, attempting to seek justice independently can be an uphill battle. IF your child suffered abuse, they deserve a level playing field against the at-fault parties, and the Injury Lawyer Team is prepared to defend your rights and believe your story.

Resources for Clergy Abuse Victims

Even the smallest act of clergy abuse can have lifelong consequences for the child. Whether your child was subjected to inappropriate touching, sexual conversations, grooming, or sexual assault, there are many statewide and national resources to address your concerns. Here are some of the most helpful support resources for reporting clergy abuse and providing emotional help for your child.

National Sexual Assault Hotline

The national sexual assault hotline is managed by the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network. You can either call the hotline at 1-800-656-4673, chat online with a representative, or text the word HOPE to 4673 to report sexual violence. You have the option to remain anonymous when reporting clergy abuse through this channel, as they will not ask for identifying information.

Survivors’ Network of Those Abused By Priests

SNAP is a national organization that is deeply committed to the fight against clergy abuse. Many children affected by abuse by a priest have shared their stories with this organization and received emotional support. Victims can attend SNAP-supported online or in-person support groups. You can also research options for holding churches and priests accountable on SNAP’s website.

The Catholic Project

This organization focuses on reform within the Catholic Church. The Catholic Project provides resources for victims of priest abuse, confidential support, and ways to get involved in the Catholic Church’s response to the epidemic of abuse.

Local Child Protection Agency

Every state has a branch of Child Protective Services that can help investigate matters of minor abuse. Many children who are vulnerable have become victims of abusive priests, and CPS can help these children find safer environments.

You can also rely on the appropriate law enforcement agency, such as police departments, to take legal action against a priest for abusive acts. If your child’s well-being is in immediate danger, your first call should be to local authorities.

How Our Law Firm Can Help You Take Legal Action

One of the most effective ways to curb priest abuse is to pursue civil lawsuits against abusive individuals. Some family members may be able to file claims on behalf of underage children, or you can appoint a legal representative. The Injury Lawyer Team will stand by your side to fight for justice for your child.

Our attorneys can provide the following legal services during your sex abuse lawsuit:

• Investigating the priest and the church in question
• Gathering available evidence to establish liability, such as witness statements, victim deposition, expert testimony, and surveillance footage
• Assessing all legal damages to maximize compensation, including emotional distress and loss of normal life
• Fulfilling all legally required processes for filing a lawsuit
• Submitting subpoenas to obtain church documents
• Protecting your child’s rights under state and federal laws
• Negotiating with defendants and insurance companies for a fair settlement
• Litigating in civil court

Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing unless we secure a favorable outcome (winning the case). We also offer a free consultation, during which you can ask questions about priest abuse, punitive damages, and other legal concerns. Note that you can pursue a lawsuit even if there is a criminal complaint and trial involving the priest in question.

If your child has suffered due to priest abuse in the Catholic Church, contact us today at 866-757-6452 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with our experienced lawyers.

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.