Dozens of Maryland clergy abuse victims have won millions of dollars in settlements with the Catholic Church and other religious institutions.
The settlements are a small measure of justice for the victims, who suffered years of abuse at the hands of their trusted leaders.
The #MeToo Movement and Maryland Clergy Abuse Lawsuit Settlements
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to hold religious institutions accountable for the abuse of their members. This movement has been fueled by the #MeToo movement, which has brought to light the widespread nature of sexual abuse and harassment.
As a result of this movement, more and more victims of clergy abuse are coming forward and seeking justice. In Maryland, there are currently dozens of lawsuits pending against the Catholic Church and other religious institutions. These lawsuits are seeking damages for the physical and emotional harm that the victims have suffered.
The settlements that have been reached so far are a small victory for the victims of clergy abuse. However, there is still much work to be done. After the release of the Maryland clergy abuse report, the Catholic Church and other religious institutions must be held accountable for their actions, and the victims must be given the justice that they deserve.
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Examples of Maryland Clergy Abuse Lawsuit Settlements
Here are some additional details about the settlements that have been reached in Maryland, according to the Maryland District Attorney:
- In 2011, the Diocese of Wilmington agreed to pay $77 million to nearly 150 survivors of priest sex abuse. The settlement was the largest of its kind at the time, and it helped to pave the way for other victims to come forward and seek justice.
- In 2016, the Archdiocese of Baltimore paid dozens of settlements to victims of A. Joseph Maskell, a priest who was accused of abusing hundreds of children over the course of his career. The settlements ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, and they helped to provide some measure of closure for the victims.
- In 2023, the Archdiocese of Baltimore agreed to pay $119 million to settle a lawsuit filed by more than 300 survivors of clergy abuse. The settlement is the largest of its kind in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States. The Archdiocese of Baltimore published a Frequently Asked Questions page on its website concerning the AG Report on Clergy Abuse
These settlements are a significant victory for the victims of clergy abuse. However, there is still much work to be done.
The Catholic Church and other religious institutions must be held accountable for their actions, and the victims must be given the justice that they deserve through the Maryland clergy sex abuse lawsuits.
The lawsuits are being filed under Maryland’s Child Victims Act, which opens a three-year window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits, regardless of when the abuse occurred.
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Where can I get more information?
If you have any questions about the Maryland Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit, you can contact a Maryland clergy abuse attorney who specializes in clergy sex abuse cases.
Contact Information:
Ben Crump Law
1000 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 554-4100
Slater Slater Schulman LLP
100 Light Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 547-7900
You can also contact the following organizations for more information:
- The Archdiocese of Baltimore: https://www.archbalt.org/
- The Maryland Clergy Sex Abuse Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
- The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
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Media Links for the Maryland Clergy Abuse Report
Office of the Maryland Attorney General
Attorney General’s Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Frequently Asked Questions concerning the AG Report on Clergy Abuse
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Media Sites
CBS News Baltimore
Read the full redacted report on sex abuse in Baltimore Archdiocese released by AG’s Office
NPR
Maryland attorney general releases report on decades of sex abuse by Catholic priests
Politico
Report details ‘staggering’ church sex abuse in Maryland
WBAL TV 11
Maryland AG releases church sex abuse report into Archdiocese of Baltimore
CNN
Baltimore Sun
Crux
Baltimore archbishop pushes back against Maryland sex abuse report
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