We’ve all seen one story after another of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, along with other religious organizations, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the LDS (Mormon Church). But these investigations focus on male clergy or members of the church, like priests, reverends, and pastors. It’s very rare to hear about nuns sexually abusing children in the church, in parochial schools, hospitals, and even in the victim’s home.
Sexual abuse by nuns, or women in general, is talked about far less than incidents involving males. This is due to a preconceived notion that women are caregivers and nurturers, and as a result, they lack the predatory instinct that can drive men to sexually assault or exploit a minor. Sadly, this is why so many people who were sexually abused by nuns don’t speak about their experience and get the help they need.
If your or your loved one was abused in a sexual manner by a Catholic nun, you may be eligible for a lawsuit against the Catholic Church for monetary damages, which we can assist you with. Ultimately, our goal is to empower you with honest and reliable advice, so there is no obligation on you to do anything beyond speaking with us. Please contact our law firm and schedule a free consultation with a sexual abuse by Catholic nuns lawyer in California.
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The Prevalence of Sexual Abuse against Children by Catholic Priests and Nuns
The Catholic Church is a large and complex organization involving many entities, like churches around the world, the charities they operate, and educational institutions (parochial schools and Catholic universities). There are also convents and rectories, which are residential dwellings for nuns and priests. These places are frequented by parishioners, guests, and students, and many parents feel perfectly safe leaving their child alone with a member of the clergy.
Sadly, this is the perfect opportunity for a predatory nun or priest to groom a child and eventually coerce them into a sexual act. It’s important to acknowledge that both men and women of the church are capable of child molestation and other horrific acts of abuse. However, there is no denying that abuse by sisters and nuns is rarely mentioned. According to Mary Dispenza, a former nun and clergy sexual abuse victim, “The general public would rather not consider the fact that religious women rape, molest and torture children.”
The idea of a Catholic nun committing such acts is so hard to accept that even now, there are very few support groups and organizations that are focused on helping those who were abused by a Catholic sister or nun. However, more people are starting to come forward, thanks to people like Mary Dispenza, who herself, was sexually abused by a Catholic priest and nun.
If you are struggling with the impact of sexual assault or abuse by any member of the Catholic Church, it’s not too late to speak with an attorney and learn about the legal actions that are available to you. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your rights as a victim of sexual abuse by the Catholic Church.
Suing the Catholic Church for Sexual Assault and Exploitation
One aspect of these cases that most people can’t fathom is how the Church was aware of countless abuse allegations against the clergy, yet they chose to do nothing to help the child that was being abused. Much of their efforts went into hiding the accusations, which they did through coercion and guilt, or outright telling the victim and their family members that such an incident never took place.
Records uncovered by journalists and lawyers show how the Church’s efforts were focused on making the allegations go away. That includes transferring the offender to another parish, school, etc., which means he or she becomes someone else’s problem. Not once did church officials call the police or child protective services to report the abuse or to initiate an investigation.
This level of negligence must not be tolerated, and we are with you every step of the way if you would like to hold the Church responsible for the abuse you suffered.
Average Compensation Amount for Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Victims
Sexual abuse settlements for those who were abused by a Catholic nun can range from $200,000 to over $1,500,000. Some cases are settled for under $100,000, but most claimants receive 6 to 7 figures in compensation to account for their emotional distress, pain and suffering, and other monetary damages. Please note that case values are unique to each victim, so there are many details we will need to learn from you in order to determine how much you can receive from a Catholic nun sexual assault lawsuit. Our attorneys are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you wish to discuss the approximate amount of compensation you are entitled to.
How Long will it Take to Reach a Settlement?
The time it will take to settle a sexual abuse claim with the Catholic Church may be around 1 to 2 years if we go by timelines for cases of child abuse against religious organizations. This is not an absolute rule, as some of our cases are settled much faster. But it’s a known fact that archdioceses in California are dealing with a substantial backlog of claims involving incidents from one or more decades ago. And the other side must be given an opportunity to decide if they want to offer a settlement that will include many of these victims, or if there are cases they wish to take to trial.
Even if they wish to settle, the initial offer is unlikely to be anything close to what you deserve. This is perfectly normal, but it means we will have to go back and forth in terms of negotiating a compensation award on your behalf. This process alone can sometimes take over a year. In the event reaching a settlement is not possible, going to trial may be the only option. If we need to schedule a trial date, the entire legal process will take over 3 years, but it should be noted that over 95% of all sexual abuse lawsuits are settled privately between the two parties.
What is the Deadline to Sue the Catholic Church?
If you were under 18 years old when you were sexually abused by a nun, the statute of limitations to sue is one of two dates:
- 22 years after you are legally an adult, i.e., your 40th birthday
- 5 years after realizing an emotional or physical injury caused by the trauma of child sexual abuse.
The second deadline, known as the discovery rule, is based on the fact that children tend to keep incidents of abuse to themselves for many years. Some of these kids have told someone, only to be ignored or discouraged from getting help. Either way, the assault or abuse they suffered is a taboo subject within their community, family, etc.., and so they stay quiet and move on as if nothing happened.
As the victim gets older, it’s clear that they have developed a multitude of problems – generally, mental health issues – that have to do with the trauma of what they went through. At that point, they realize the need to go to the police, a therapist, lawyer, etc., but when will this happen? The answer is different for each and every victim of child abuse. This is why the state of California has a discovery rule, where you are allowed to sue the Catholic Church within 5 years of learning about the harm you suffered.
If you have any questions about the discovery rule and the statute of limitations for a sexual abuse lawsuit, please call us to schedule a free case evaluation.
Free Legal Services from a Sexual Abuse Lawyer
As someone that is struggling with the trauma of sexual abuse, paying for a lawyer that can represent you is the last thing you should be worried about. Our attorneys provide free legal services under the Zero Fee Guarantee, a policy where all of our fees are paid by the defendant as a part of your settlement. In other words, winning your case is how we receive payment, and if we don’t bring you compensation from a lawsuit, you owe us absolutely nothing.
A Catholic Church sexual abuse attorney is waiting to assist you, so please contact us to discuss your rights and legal options.
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