Catholic Clergy Covered Up Thousands of Cases of Sexual Abuse by Priests
On July 27, 2018, a grand jury in Pennsylvania reported that over 300 priests abused more than 1,000 children and adults over the course of multiple decades. The report reveals that leaders in the Catholic church who knew about the abuses did everything in their power to avoid scandal by transferring offending priests to other locations, administering ineffective discipline, and failing to report criminal acts to law enforcement.
Fifteen years ago, in 2003, the Phoenix Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church experienced a similar crisis, in which Thomas O’Brien (the former Bishop) admitted to a massive cover-up involving hundreds of thousands of recorded instances of sex abuse at the hands of priests. As the scandal unfolded, 6 priests were charged and punished, 2 left the country, and multiple others priests faced civil lawsuits filed by victims of clergy sexual abuse.
Names of Arizona Priests and Deacons Laicized or Removed from Ministry
If you suspect a priest is engaging in abusive sexual misconduct, be aware that the Catholic Church has a long history of dealing with sexual abuse by moving offending priests to other parishes or other dioceses. Victims of clergy sexual abuse should contact police first. Click here to access lists of priests and deacons from the Diocese of Phoenix and other dioceses who have been laicized and/or removed from their position of trust. These lists are only those priests that the Diocese of Phoenix has identified. There may be other priests or deacons who have been reported in other states who then transferred to Phoenix who have been identified as abusers.
Sexual Abuse Lawyers Serving Victims in Phoenix
At Montoya, Lucero & Pastor, P.A., we protect survivors of sexual abuse. We help victims and their families navigate the criminal justice system and hold institutions of trust, like the Roman Catholic Church, accountable for covering up and allowing the sexual abuse to occur in the first place. The lawyers at Montoya, Lucero & Pastor, PA are here to help victims rebuild their lives by holding pedophile priests, religious orders and the Diocese accountable so that victims have the resources they need to heal. If you or someone you love has been targeted, groomed, and/or sexually abused by priests, deacons or other religious workers, connect with one of our Phoenix sexual abuse attorneys immediately to get help.
Call (602) 483-6869 today to speak to a member of our team, or send us a message to tell us how we can serve you.