Were You Abused?
Call Today: 1-866-777-2557
Were you sexually abused as a child by a priest, deacon or any other member of the Catholic Church? You are not alone. We are here to help abuse victims. Stand up against your abuser and help prevent this from happening to someone else. Please fill out our confidential online contact form or call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 and an Massachusetts Sex Abuse Lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your possible case. This is a free consultation. There is no cost to investigate and there are no legal fees unless you receive financial compensation at the end of the case. Making the call is sometimes the hardest step, but it is often a necessary step on the road to healing. Priest Sex Abuse Lawyer Massachusetts
Reasons to call
Please call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 or fill out our confidential contact form and a lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your case.
In 2002, the prevalent pattern of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church that was kept private for so long was just beginning to come to light. An essential portion of this story came about in Boston. That year, the Boston Globe started investigating and producing reports with regards to accusations towards priests in the area. The reporting was so powerful at getting the truth to light that five priests, John Geoghan, John Hanlon, Paul Shanley, Robert V. Gale and Jesuit priest James Talbot, ended up being convicted and taken to prison.
The important points in relation to these people were scary enough.
Priest Sex Abuse Lawyer MA
Geoghan, for example, was repeatedly designated to posts in a variety of locations in the Archdiocese of Boston which would have called for getting together with children, even with a number of episodes where families stated they found him molesting their sons. He was sent to treatment for pedophilia, and later on instructed by a cardinal to undergo counseling. Some individuals the victims’ families point out church authorities requested them to keep silent in regards to the abuse.
Priest Sex Abuse Lawyer Massachusetts
This info, while stunning, are just like others that came to the surface in the early 2000s, in that they demonstrate a pattern of Catholic higher-ups being aware of sexual abuse and refusing to take appropriate measures to shield children.
In the wake of the scandal, the archdiocese of Boston ended up spending almost $100 million in damages to victims, plus the Archbishop of the diocese, Cardinal Law, resigned. He'd been a key player in covering up claims and sheltering predator priests by shuffling them from job to job. The church accepted his resignation, however he wasn't defrocked or blacklisted from working; in fact, he acquired top assignments in Rome, and Pope Francis presided at his 2017 memorial service.
Priest Sex Abuse Lawyer Massachusetts
Helping to make these facts public required rigorous reporting by way of a focused team as the specifics had been so routinely covered up by top church officers, persons in law enforcement and other people who prioritized sheltering the church from total embarrassment. Right after the initial Boston Globe reporting, an increasing number of accusations came forth. The Globe receive a Pulitzer for its work, and the events also inspired the Oscar-winning film Spotlight.
Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyers Massachusetts
The events in Boston have cracked a Pandora’s Box of sex abuse frightening facts and figures all over the world, as it is becoming apparent how widespread the reality of Catholic child sex abuse actually is. These individuals inspired reforms in dioceses throughout the country, many of which implemented modern procedures to shield children.
Copyright ©2020 Vanderhyde Law. All Rights Reserved. Please read our disclaimer and terms of use. The use of this website or contact forms does not create an attorney client relationship. Under our legal system, all parties mentioned in this website are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Attorney Advertising