Abuse by Nuns: Civil Claims Against Religious Orders and Dioceses
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Nuns and religious sisters ran many Catholic schools, orphanages, hospitals and children’s homes in the United States. Survivors of sexual or physical abuse by a nun can often bring a civil claim, usually against the religious order she belonged to, and sometimes against the diocese or institution that owned or ran the facility.
Facts checked September 18, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.
Where abuse by nuns happened
Most claims involve children in the sisters’ care: parochial schools, orphanages, residential homes, and homes for unmarried mothers. Survivors describe sexual abuse, severe beatings, humiliation and neglect, often in institutions where children had no parent to turn to.
One example is St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, Vermont, which housed more than 13,000 children between 1854 and 1974. It was run by the Montreal-based Sisters of Providence and owned by the Diocese of Burlington. In the 1990s, more than 100 former residents accepted $5,000 each from the diocese and waived their right to sue. After a 2018 BuzzFeed News investigation, the Vermont Attorney General’s report confirmed years of physical and psychological abuse of children there, and Vermont repealed its statute of limitations for civil lawsuits over childhood physical abuse.
Legal issues specific to claims against nuns
Orders of women religious are separate legal entities from dioceses, and some have shrunk, merged or moved their headquarters abroad. That can make it harder to collect compensation from the order, so claims often also look at the diocese that owned the facility and at insurance policies from the time.
Many states’ extended deadlines and revival windows apply only to sexual abuse. Claims for physical abuse may face shorter deadlines unless, as in Vermont, the state has changed the law.
Who may be liable for abuse by a nun
| Possible defendant | When it may be responsible |
|---|---|
| The religious order (congregation of sisters) | The sister was a member, and the order assigned and supervised her |
| The diocese | It owned, ran or oversaw the school, orphanage or home |
| The institution | The school, orphanage or charity still exists as a legal entity |
| Insurers | Policies in force when the abuse happened may still pay claims |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sue nuns for abuse?
Can I bring a claim for physical abuse by a nun, not just sexual abuse?
What if the order of sisters no longer exists or has merged?
I was abused at a Catholic orphanage. Who can I sue?
What happened at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Vermont?
Will the religious order find out if I contact a lawyer?
See all frequently asked questions
Related pages
Sources
Abused by a nun? The order or diocese may owe you compensation.
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