California Clergy Abuse Cases Are Far From Over

When clergy abuse first came to the attention of the public in the 1980s, many were shocked and horrified.  Today, many of those same people make the false assumption that such cases are a thing of the past; that by shining a spotlight on these cases 40 years ago, the problem has long since been solved.  In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.  As late as January of 2020, clergy abuse settlements in CAcost the Archdiocese of Los Angeles $1.9 million. 

How can Clergy Abuse Lawsuits In CA still be active when the problem has been clear for four decades?  The answer lies in the way clergy abuse cases are often handled by the victims, their families, and the churches as represented by their leadership.

A Silent Problem

Clergy abuse is largely a problem of shame for the victims.  Even though sexual abuse of a child is in no way that child’s fault, there is an inherent embarrassment that comes from being a victim of this particular type of abuse.  Many children never speak out about their attackers at all; those who do may face disbelief, fear of reprisal by a powerful, connected abuser, or even just confusion about what happened to them.  In short, everything conspires to keep victims of child sexual abuse quiet about their attacks.

For those who open up to a trusted adult, disclosure is only the beginning of a long and painful process.  The child may be required to repeat his story again and again, to police, attorneys and others who ask thousands of questions.  Although compassionate treatment of sexual abuse victims has gotten better through the years, there is still a good chance that the process will be painful and fraught with obstacles for a child.  Many of them, even when it is clear they have a good case, eventually drop the matter due to pressure from family and their own exhaustion with the process.

Finally, to those who make it through the gauntlet, there is the possibility that nothing will happen.  Abusers are routinely sent to other parishes or locations, and many are even able to take up work with children again after a time.  Plea agreements may unclog court case loads, but they often put a predator back on the street without the stigma of a child sexual assault attached to his or her name.  This means that a dangerous child abuser may simply move to the next neighborhood and begin all over again, without parents or children being the wiser.

If you have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of clergy, officials, employees or volunteers of any type in a church setting, it is important to seek help from an attorney with experience in handling these types of cases.  At National Injury Law, we offer the professional services of clergy abuse lawyers for CA victims.  Contact us for more information about how we can help you recover compensation for the physical and emotional damages you have suffered.