Clergy Child Sex Abuse Lawyers

Places of worship should be our sanctuaries. And the religious leaders we look up to should always protect our children from harm. But as many news headlines over the years have shown, that isn’t always the case. While the Catholic Clergy child sex abuse scandal has received the most attention, other religious groups have also been in the news for the same terrible problem.

The one good thing that has come from all of this is that the days of suffering in silence are over. If you or a loved one were sexually abused by a member of the clergy of any religious order, call the clergy sex abuse attorneys at The Dominguez Firm for a free and completely confidential consultation at 800-818-1818. Our compassionate and experienced attorneys have been finding justice in the name of child sex abuse survivors for years and we can do the same for you.

Notable Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases

The Catholic church child sex abuse scandal may be the best-known, but it isn’t the only one. Numerous religious groups have also been sued for child sexual abuse. Here are some of the most notable. Keep in mind, this is by no means a complete list.

The Catholic Church – When the Boston Globe published its comprehensive investigation into the Catholic Church child sex abuse scandal almost 20 years ago, it was a watershed moment. Up until then, child sex abuse by members of the Catholic clergy was an open secret in some circles, but it was never openly talked about. That all changed when the Globe published its exposé.

To date, the Catholic Church has paid over $4 billion to child sex abuse survivors. And with many states changing their statute of limitations, that amount could grow significantly. As with other child sex abuse scandals, the Catholic Church not only silenced the victims, they went out of their way to protect their attackers.

Priests accused of sexually abusing children were not reported to the authorities. Instead, they were usually placed on some sort of sick leave. Then, most were transferred to other dioceses, a disastrous move that usually led to more children being sexually abused.

Jehovah’s Witnesses – Like the Catholic Church, child sex abuse within the Jehovah’s Witness religious organization has been shrouded in secrecy.

Religious leaders had amassed a secret list of adults accused of sexually molesting children. And just like the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts, most of those accused were never arrested. The list is believed to go back decades and the number of names on the list is estimated to be between 15,000 to 20,000. Unlike the Catholic Church, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have so far refused to release any names and have spent millions from its well-funded coffers to fight any challenges.  

To make matters worse, Jehovah’s Witnesses use the biblical quote from Deuteronomy “at the mouth of two witnesses” as a burden of proof. In other words, two people must have seen the attack, which is extremely rare.

La Luz del Mundo Fundamentalist Church – The leader of the fundamentalist Christian megachurch, La Luz del Mundo was recently arrested on child rape and human trafficking charges in Los Angeles. Naasón Joaquín García the self-styled apostle of Christ is currently facing three dozen felony charges. All of the sex abuse and assault charges he is facing occurred in Los Angeles County.

The church, which has over 5 million members worldwide has been accused of child sexual abuse for decades. Citing La Luz del Mundo’s vast reserves of money, a judge in Los Angeles Superior Court set García’s bail at a whopping $90 million, thus ensuring that he remains behind bars while he awaits trial.

Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

Signs of child sexual abuse may not be immediately obvious. But there are some physical signs and changes in behavior to look for, including:

• Physical signs
• Any bleeding or bruising to the genital area
• Underwear with blood stains or tears
• Having to urinate more frequently or signs of an infection
• A change in how the child walks or sits
• Pain in the genital area, as well as itching or complaints of a burning sensation

• Changes in behavior
• Sudden personality changes, such as developing a fear of being touched
• Bathing excessively or not wanting to bathe at all
• Being depressed and in extreme cases, talking about suicide
• A sudden drop in a child’s grades
• Self-harm
• Bed wetting
• Making inappropriate sexual comments or acting in an overly sexual manner

What are your legal options?

If you or someone you love was sexually abused by a member of the clergy, you can sue them in civil court, regardless of whether they were convicted in criminal court or not. And while a criminal case is handled by the state, in a civil case, you will want to hire the services of a law firm with experience handling child sex abuse cases.

While the aim of a criminal trial is to punish the abuser by sending them to prison, in a civil case, the objective is to collect monetary damages for the victim. Also, unlike a criminal case, the standard of proof is lower. The case does not have to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Beyond seeking justice against the actual abuser, filing a civil lawsuit against the religious organization that allowed the abuse to happen can help send a clear signal that coverups and lies will have financial consequences. Many brave child sex abuse survivors have come forward in recent years. Not only have they helped reveal the extent of the horrible crimes committed, they’ve put a serious dent in the finances of these religious institutions, including even the Catholic Church’s.

California changes its statute of limitations for filing child sexual abuse charges

Another win for the survivors of child sexual abuse by clergy members was the recent change to the statute of limitations in California. Starting in January of 2020, survivors had new time limits for filing claims. Now, they can do so up until the age of 40 or within five years of when they became aware of the abuse. Previously it was up until the age of 26 or within three years of when they were aware of the abuse.

This significant change allows thousands of child sex abuse survivors who previously thought they had no recourse to come forward and seek justice. The number of new lawsuits because of this change could potentially be in the thousands.

The clergy sex abuse lawyers at The Dominguez Firm can help

If you or a loved one suffered child sexual abuse by a member of the clergy, the days of suffering in silence are over. The experienced and compassionate child sex abuse lawyers at The Dominguez Firm are here for you. Call us at 800-818-1818 for a free and completely confidential consultation.

And if you’re worried about the cost of hiring an attorney, know that there are no upfront or hidden fees when you hire The Dominguez Firm. We work on a contingency basis, which means we collect a percentage of any amount you win, which will be clearly stated in the client agreement that you sign on with us. And in the unlikely event that we are unable to recover a financial settlement or verdict, you owe us nothing. In other words: you win, or you don’t pay! You have nothing to lose and so much to gain by calling the clergy child sex abuse attorneys at The Dominguez Firm.