In this Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, photo, attorney Adam Slater takes a phone call on a patio outside his high-rise Manhattan office overlooking St. Patrick's Cathedral, in New York. Slater's firm is representing clients accusing the Roman Catholic Church of sexual abuse, a clientele that is rapidly growing after New York state opened its one-year window allowing sex abuse suits with no statute of limitations.
“It’s like a whole new beginning for me,” said 71-year-old Nancy Holling-Lonnecker of San Diego, who plans to take advantage of an upcoming three-year window for such suits in California. Her claim dates back to the 1950s, when she says a priest repeatedly raped her in a confession booth beginning when she was 7 years old.
“The general public is more disgusted than ever with the clergy sex abuse and the cover-up, and that will be reflected in jury verdicts,” said Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston attorney who was at the center of numerous lawsuits against the church in that city and was portrayed in the movie “Spotlight.” Since the 15 states enacted their laws at different times over the past two years, the onslaught of lawsuits is coming in waves.opened its one-year window allowing sexual abuse suits with no statute of limitations, more than 400 cases against the church and other institutions were filed on the first day alone. That number is now up to more than 1,000, with most targeting the church.
“Dead people can’t defend themselves,” said Mark Chopko, former general counsel to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “There is also no one there to be interviewed. If a diocese gets a claim that Father Smith abused somebody in 1947, and there is nothing in Father Smith’s file and there is no one to ask whether there is merit or not, the diocese is stuck.”Slater’s Manhattan offices may have views of St.
One recent day, lawyers talked to at least a half-dozen potential plaintiffs by lunchtime, with one saying she was raped at a first communion party and another saying a priest sodomized him after he was told to pull down his pants so his temperature could be taken. Many of the accusations involve those already identified by dioceses as “credibly accused” — there are, lay persons and other clergy member that meet that standard, according to a recent AP tally. Those are the easy cases.
One of the lawyers eating pizza, Steven Alter, pushed back when asked if the people coming forward are just in it for the money.
Patrick Madrid-- your thoughts. Ban abortions, no birth control., etc. What about ABUSE? you're a hypocrite.
And the Catholic Church professes to be the one true Church. Really? God must be ashamed. Refusing communion to some who are not worthy. Shameful.
There is a good reason we have statutes of limitations. It is usually impossible to fairly litigate an action where the events happened decades ago.
robintallfish Good. I hope it shuts down the cult, er, I mean church.
Good thing they own lots of urban real estate.
FFRF This is wonderful news. These people need to be arrested & prosecuted for their horribly abusive crimes. And possible payouts as much as 4 billion dollars is delightful news. All victims need justice. And anyone supporting the Catholic church is supporting abuse. This must stop!
FFRF The catholic 'church' should be labeled a criminal organization. Lose it's tax exempt status. Be forced to close. Sell everything and give all the proceeds to the victims. Register all priests as sex offenders. 🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽
The church is the Richest institution in the world. $4B is nothing compared to what they have in their mechant coufers but in the world financial instituions and investement pipelines from public and private bonds to Bonds institutions and thr likes.
Thoughts and Prayers
MrJonCryer Corrupt, disgusting institution.
Smh
FrackHazReveal Everything they own! ⚖️🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌎✊🏾
MrJonCryer How does any Catholic of good conscience stand being associated with this kind of corrupt, un-Christisn, crime-tolerant cabal? Sinful.
MrJonCryer Good
MrJonCryer Good. Bury the Church. Take EVERYTHING. It's a global pedophilia crime ring that should be shut down everywhere. Why are we still allowing it to operate? Because it's a 'religious' organization? How many more cases of sexual abuse do we accept before we say 'ENOUGH?'
'Church shopping' makes sense. Can't imagine going to mass and enthusiastically giving money to fund this.
This is what happens when agents (bishops and priests) of a foreign nation (Vatican City) have no allegiance to the US but rather an arrogant disregard for the laws they feel do not apply to them. We see this in every action they undertake. They’re simply a law unto themselves
Jesus! Grant them leave to have wives already. I don't know if that would help but... Something
What's needed is an independent lay oversight board, not the bogus reforms the Vatican instituted earlier this year.
Pay up! They got that and more!
Amazing that this child sex ring is even still operational. Any other business would've been shuttered a long time ago
So sad what happened to the children
If any other organization had world wide child rape, and whose upper management knowingly covered it up, it would be closed down. But the Church hides behind a cross and lectures on morality so it gets to stay open. It's shown its true god is itself and its cash flow.
The church should file bankruptcy and dismiss all cases of a civil nature
Thoughts and prayers
I certainly don’t want to defend the church’s wrongdoing, but this feeds right into the hands of evangelical leaders who are constantly trying to suck new parishioners into their web of greed and power.
Tax the churches. They should be pitching in on the expenses they drain from our legal system.
yashar Unreal. Hopefully it bankrupts them ( I know not possible). When are people going to start doing actual jail time for this stuff? Throw the fuckers in hole and forget they existed
It’s very clear at this point that the Vatican should be held responsible for their employed Priests Nuns & other staff responsible for sexual abuse. When there are this many cases, & all across Canada also, the leadership (Vatican & all churchs) should be held responsible.
The meek shall inherit the earth.
You can hold whatever religious belief you want but I don't understand how people continue to support this institution
What surprises me with this issue is that the men affected have not had to have witnesses or documented proof that is required by women who have been assaulted. If it had just been women who voiced complaints would it have proceeded so quickly and received so much attention? No.
The catholic church is the single most evil entity ever known.
yashar Each case must be fully vetted as some are not factual. In addition, how does a dead man defend himself?
When the common man controls religion, nothing good comes from this false control.
And should.
I hope we go after the teachers unions next. They’re covering up for decades of abuse as well. Let’s clean up all of our institutions.
All must read Infiltration by TaylorRMarshall and follow Church_Militant and LifeSite
But aren’t they all forgiven on Sunday the cult that keeps on giving? Boring AF
There will be a second collection.
yashar They’re out of control.
yashar
There are so many good Catholic parishioners being lead by a criminal organization
rolandsmartin For preying on children versus praying over them; $4B isn’t ENOUGH.
So when is the Vatican having its rummage sale? I saw a couple of paintings there that would look good in my bathroom.
Protestants 10 Catholics Nil.😂
couch change for them
Tanginang mga pari na ito...[]{}%^*+=_\\|~€€£¥•.,?!’
The question is how come the church have so much money(aside for not paying taxes) to settle lawsuit....🤔
And yet ... Pope Francis... “nothing to see here.” dosomething
Imagine all that abuse and tax free status too! What a system.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: ABC - 🏆 471. / 51 Read more »
Source: Eater - 🏆 368. / 59 Read more »
Source: Yahoo Lifestyle - 🏆 365. / 59 Read more »
Source: DEADLINE - 🏆 109. / 63 Read more »
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »