Were You Abused?
Virginia Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer - Virginia Catholic Church Sexual Assault Settlements VA
If you were 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 you. Please fill out our confidential online contact form or call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 and a Virginia Sexual Abuse Lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your possible case. Help is available nationwide. There is no cost to investigate and there are no legal fees unless you receive financial compensation. Making the call is sometimes the hardest step, but it is often a necessary step on the road to healing. Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer Virginia
Reasons to call
- Hold the church and priests accountable
- Prevent this from happening to someone else
- Help with the road to recovery – settlement money can provide financial security for you. It can also help pay for therapy, rehabilitation, and medical treatment
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. Virginia Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer
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Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer Virginia
CATHOLIC CHURCH LAWSUITS AND THEIR EFFECTS
Lawsuits filed against dioceses of the Catholic Church by victims of sexual abuse in the United States alone have resulted in settlements that total greater than three billion dollars. The targets of the lawsuits have primarily been religious orders and dioceses instead of individual parishes, because the parishes have little control over the priests associated with them. For many sexual abuse victims, civil lawsuits are the only recourse they have to hold the Church responsible for its part in their abuse.
Virginia Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer
As a result of these lawsuits, at least 19 dioceses have had to file for protection from bankruptcy. The assets of the dioceses including property, cash, and insurance payouts can be targeted by the lawsuits. The Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon was the first to file for bankruptcy in 2004 after having already settled claims in excess of 53 million dollars. The diocese was facing additional lawsuits, and the archbishop sought to protect the assets of the parishes from the sexual abuse victims suing them.
Some critics of the lawsuits worry that the lawsuits against the dioceses lead to the wrong parties being punished. When a diocese is bankrupted, the effects are more often felt by the parishioners and school children rather than the bishops who truly wield the power to effect change. While attorneys for the sexual abuse victims recognize that the monetary awards do not assuage the victims’ suffering, they do believe that the lawsuits are a tool to force church leaders to be accountable for their role in allowing the abuse and for going to great lengths to cover up for the abusers.
Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer Virginia
There has been little evidence thus far that the lawsuits and knowledge of their leaders either sexually abusing children themselves or participating in covering up for or sheltering sexual abusers have led to greater numbers of Catholics leaving the Church. It may be too soon to weigh the effects these revelations have on Church attendance, though, as there have been indications that United States Catholics have had declining views on how Pope Francis has handled the series of scandals. Some researchers believe that the connection Catholics have to their individual parish and their relationship with their faith community is a stronger pull than who the bishop or other leaders are. Others worry that the revelations of sexual abuse and sexual abuse cover-ups are being made known at a time when other institutions are being questioned by young people.
Virginia Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 for a Free, Confidential Consultation. No Legal Fees Unless You Receive Settlement.
Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer Virginia - Free Confidential Consultation - 1-866-777-2557
Priest Sex Abuse Lawyer
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