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Catholic Church Abuse Claims

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Catholic Church Claims

The Catholic Church has faced decades of civil litigation over clergy sexual abuse. Claims can be brought against individual priests, deacons, or lay employees as well as the dioceses, religious orders, and institutions that employed or supervised them.

Types of Claims Against the Catholic Church

  • Direct abuse by priests, deacons, or church employees
  • Diocesan negligence — failure to supervise or remove abusers
  • Institutional cover-up — transferring abusers to new parishes
  • Religious order liability (Jesuits, De La Salle Brothers, Franciscans, etc.)
  • Abuse at Catholic schools or youth programmes
  • Bankruptcy trust claims against dioceses in Chapter 11

Diocese Bankruptcy Trusts

More than two dozen US Catholic dioceses have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy since 2004, including those in:

  • California: Stockton, Fresno, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, Santa Rosa
  • New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other states

When a diocese enters bankruptcy, abuse claims must be filed through a court-supervised trust. Strict deadlines apply, and missing them permanently bars your claim.

See the status of individual diocese bankruptcy cases, including Oakland, Buffalo, Rochester, Rockville Centre and Camden.

Archdiocese Settlements Outside Bankruptcy

Some of the largest archdioceses have settled abuse claims without bankruptcy. These pages explain each deal and what it means for survivors.

Archdiocese of New York $800 million settlementProposed $800 million deal for about 1,300 Child Victims Act claims, announced May 1, 2026, which required every survivor to accept.Archdiocese of Los Angeles $880 million settlement$880 million agreement for 1,353 AB 218 claims, announced October 16, 2024, without bankruptcy.
State Law Notice: Laws governing civil claims for religious institution abuse vary significantly by state. Filing deadlines, lookback windows, and available defendants differ depending on where the abuse occurred and your current state of residence. The information on this page is general in nature. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon without first speaking to a qualified attorney about your specific circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still file a claim against a diocese that has filed for bankruptcy?
Yes, but strict court-imposed deadlines apply. Claims must be filed through the bankruptcy trust process. Missing these deadlines permanently bars your claim.
What if the priest or abuser has died?
The death of the individual perpetrator does not prevent a civil claim against the diocese or religious order that employed or supervised them.
Is there a list of dioceses that have filed for bankruptcy?
More than two dozen US Catholic dioceses have filed for Chapter 11 since 2004, including those in Stockton, Fresno, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, Santa Rosa, and others. The team can check the status of any specific diocese.
What is the filing deadline for Catholic Church abuse claims?
Deadlines vary significantly by state and, for bankruptcy cases, by court order. Some states have removed deadlines entirely for childhood sexual abuse claims. Never assume it is too late.
Can I sue the Catholic Church for abuse by a priest?
Yes. Claims are usually brought against the diocese or archdiocese that assigned the priest, or the religious order he belonged to. Each diocese is a separate legal entity, so the claim names the one that was responsible.
What is a list of credibly accused priests?
Since 2018 many dioceses and religious orders have published lists of clergy they consider credibly accused of abuse. A name on a list can support a claim, but the abuser does not need to be listed for you to bring one.
Should I report the abuse to the diocese before talking to a lawyer?
You do not have to. Diocesan victim assistance programmes are run by the institution you may be claiming against, so it is usually wise to get independent legal advice first. You can still report to the police at any time.
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Further Reading

Find Out If You Have a Claim — in Confidence

Tell us briefly what happened. The legal team will review it and explain your options, with no cost and no obligation.

  • Free, confidential case review
  • No legal fees unless compensation is recovered
  • Share only what you are comfortable with
  • Filing deadlines apply, so check your options now

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