
When sexual abusers are left unsupervised around minors, what is stopping them from abusing again? That is the question that should be asked regarding priests, clergy, and other leaders within the Roman Catholic Church who have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse.
Despite decades of scandal rippling through the Diocese, the Church seems to have not learned its lesson, and these individuals remain mostly unmonitored by religious authorities and law enforcement.
The consequences of failing to monitor predator priests is the high likelihood of reoffending and harming more children within the Church at large. We work to hold abusers and the system that allowed the abuse to occur accountable for their actions.
Contact a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer to set up a free initial consultation and join our more than 30,000 clients who we have helped pursue justice.
Associated Press Investigation into Accused Priests
The Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandal, once a headline-grabbing crisis, continues to haunt the institution. A sobering investigation by the Associated Press has uncovered that almost 1,700 priests and clergy accused of sex abuse are still active in ministry or living quietly in communities around minors. From teaching math to counseling survivors, they hold positions of trust that could be exploited.
The analysis by the Associated Press shows that these individuals now hold leadership positions around minors, such as teachers, coaches, counselors, deacons, nurses, and foster parents.
Since leaving the church or being sent to a different location, many have reoffended as sexual assault and being in possession of child pornography. The consequences of failing to monitor these predators pose a significant risk to children considering:
- 160 credibly accused individuals have continued working or volunteering in churches
- Dozens were transferred to Catholic Dioceses overseas
- 190 hold professional licenses to work in education, medicine, social work, and counseling
- Two worked as juvenile detention officers
- Several transitioned to government jobs like victims’ advocates and public health.
- Others found employment at DisneyWorld, community centers, or domestic abuse shelters.
Oversight and Monitoring Predatory Priests
Most offenders have little or no oversight, but those who are supervised are under legal restrictions. This shows a failure of oversight in the Church and is a credit to the states with stricter legal restrictions on sexual abuse. The Associated Press shows a breakdown of defrocked priests:
- Only 310 of the 2,000 credibly accused clergy have been charged with a crime
- 80 are in prison facing charges or are on probation
- 75 are now on the sex offender registry
- 64 are in treatment or under strict restrictions or monitoring
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Past Failings of the Church’s Strategy of Reassignments
The Catholic Church’s strategy of reassigning accused priests to new parishes or positions of trust has proven to be a dangerous and ineffective method of addressing the problem of clergy sexual abuse.
By transferring these individuals rather than holding them accountable, the Church allowed them to continue their predatory behavior, often with devastating consequences. Numerous priests accused of sexual abuse were merely shuffled from one parish to another or even just allowed positions of authority in secular settings.
This practice allowed these predatory priests to maintain access to children and young people, enabling them to continue their abusive behavior undetected.
The Church’s failure to implement effective monitoring systems and accountability measures has allowed more victims to suffer. This systemic negligence continues to encourage a loss of trust in the institution and has had a profound impact on the lives of survivors.
Transparency from within institutions like the Church is desperately needed to protect minors and other at-risk individuals from abusers. If you were sexually abused by a member of the clergy who was reassigned rather than held accountable, you deserve justice.
At White Law PLLC, we remain passionate advocates for survivors and strive to continue encouraging institutions like the Roman Catholic Church to be held accountable.
Improved Monitoring of Religious Leaders
The widespread public outrage and media attention surrounding the last decades of clergy abuse scandals has forced the Catholic Church to begin implementing some measures to improve the monitoring of predator priests.
Dioceses have introduced stricter guidelines for reporting and investigating allegations of abuse, and some have established independent review boards to oversee these processes. However, the effectiveness of these measures is debated.
It is still up to the individual Diocese to implement these meaningful reforms and monitoring systems. Concerns persist about the Church’s willingness to fully cooperate with law enforcement and to prioritize the well-being of survivors over institutional protection.
Because of this, the Church should increase oversight and survivor–centered policies.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
Impact on the Statute of Limitations in Michigan
Public outcry and increased media attention have also led to significant legal reforms in Michigan, including changes to the law. Many survivors of sexual abuse experience delayed disclosure or even repressed memories due to the trauma they endured.
This can significantly impact their ability to pursue legal action, as Michigan’s statute of limitations for clergy abuse cases can be restrictive.
In November 2023, state lawmakers began to try to extend the current statute of limitations for sexual assault cases from 28 years to 52 years.
This is based on studies from Child USA that state the average age for disclosure of sexual abuse is 52. If this change occurs, many more survivors will be able to seek justice, even decades after the abuse occurred.
As of right now, survivors in Michigan have until their 28th birthday or within 10 years of the abuse to file a civil lawsuit. For cases involving first-degree criminal sexual abuse, there is no statute of limitations.
Consulting with an experienced Michigan sexual abuse lawyer can help you understand your legal options and explore potential avenues for justice.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Contact White Law PLLC for Advice on Clergy Abuse Cases
If a member of the clergy sexually abused you, you deserve justice. The Church’s failure to protect vulnerable individuals and to monitor predator priests has had devastating consequences. At White Law PLLC, we are committed to helping survivors seek justice and find healing.
Our experienced attorneys will fight to hold perpetrators and the institutions that allowed their abuse accountable. Contact us for a strong advocate and learn about your legal options for holding the abuser and the Church responsible for their actions. We are here to help.
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