Clergy abuse has plagued dioceses around the country, including Waldorf, Maryland. Many children and adults have experienced sexual abuse by religious authority figures who they should have been able to trust. The impacts of this abuse are long-lasting and can extend into the community, not just the victim.
If a clergy member has sexually abused you, you need to reach out to a personal injury lawyer to get compensation for the bodily hurt and mental anguish you’ve sustained. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is committed to helping survivors share their stories and hold their abusers accountable through civil claims.
Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is committed to seeking justice and compensation for survivors of clergy sexual abuse. We have a proven track record of securing large settlements for our clients while still handling these sensitive cases with the compassion they require.
Priest grooming and handling
Deacon assault and rape
Clergy child abuse filed in adulthood
Volunteer-perpetrated Catholic church abuse
Religious school priest teen sexual abuse
Case filed against a deceased priest
Our mission is to support survivors of sexual abuse in Waldorf and throughout Maryland on their healing journey. We strive to achieve this by holding abusers accountable for their actions and helping survivors obtain the compensation they need to rebuild their lives.
We pride ourselves on being there for our clients every step of the way, offering support, resources, and guidance through the legal process.
Prevalence of Clergy Sexual Abuse in Waldorf
Waldorf has been plagued with clergy abuse for decades, with many allegations coming to light only recently [1]. Some clergy abuse statistics include:
- Several churches have faced clergy abuse allegations in Waldorf, including St. Peter, Our Lady Help of Christians, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
- The Archdiocese of Washington released a list in 2018 with 31 clergy members who were credibly accused of sexually abusing children.
Some more notable cases of clergy sexual abuse in Waldorf include:
- Peter M. McCutcheon: He was removed from ministry, charged, and sentenced to 25 years in jail for sexually abusing several boys between 1981 and 1985. A civil lawsuit was filed against McCutcheon and the Archdiocese in 1988.
- Thomas W. Lyons: Lyons was publicly named in 2018 of credibly accused clergy members. One victim stated that he was sexually abused for ten years, from ages seven to 17.
- John Joseph Mike Jr.: Mike was criminally charged for abusing two boys and admitted to abusing a boy at his previous parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, MD. He was diagnosed with “sexual sadism” and sent to CT for treatment. At least seven victims, all boys ages 13-17 when abused, had come forward. Mike did not return to active ministry.
Common Forms of Clergy Sexual Abuse
Clergy sexual abuse comes in many forms, such as:
- Grooming: A church authority figure deliberately cultivating a close relationship with a victim’s family, building trust, and gaining access to enable the sexual abuse of the child.
- Exposure: A clergy member exposing themself to a minor or coercing the child to expose themself to the clergy member.
- Exploitation: Using their position of power to coerce sexual favors from a child in the congregation.
- Inappropriate Touching: Any unwanted touching like fondling, hugging, or kisses, often disguised as affectionate or pastoral care.
- Sexual Assault: Non-consensual sexual acts ranging from groping to forceful rape.
- Sexual Verbal Abuse: Inappropriate and unwanted sexual comments of any kind to someone within the congregation.
Common Signs of Clergy Abuse Among Child Victims
Being able to spot the signs of child sexual abuse is essential when preventing or fighting systemic abuse in religious settings. These are the common signs to watch for:
- Sleep issues like nightmares, insomnia, and bed-wetting
- Unexplained physical symptoms such as bruises, bleeding, pain, or discomfort, especially in private areas
- Decline in academic performance
- Inappropriate sexual knowledge or behavior for their age
- Increase in self-harm or suicidal tendencies
- Heightened fear and anxiety surrounding religious activities or specific clergy members.
- Sudden behavioral changes like withdrawing from loved ones, being aggressive, or regressing to younger behaviors
Eligibility to File a Clergy Sexual Abuse Claim
In Maryland and other states, several groups of people might be eligible to file a clergy sexual abuse civil claim:
- Adult victims who experience sexual abuse as adults
- Adult survivors who’ve experienced childhood sexual abuse
- Child victims who have their parents or legal guardians acting on their behalf
In some cases, victims’ families might be able to file a civil lawsuit on their behalf, regardless of age. This exception only happens if the victim is incapable of filing on their own for whatever reason, including that they’ve passed away due to the sexual abuse.
Liability in Clergy Abuse Cases
In clergy sexual abuse cases, while the individual perpetrator is often held liable, they may not be the only responsible party. In addition to facing potential criminal charges, abusers can also be held civilly liable.
Sometimes, the institution can be found liable for sexual abuse or assault. This responsibility is considered institutional liability. We can hold churches, Dioceses, and other institutions liable on these principles:
- Vicarious liability, which means they’re responsible even if they’re not deemed negligent
- Negligent hiring, retention, or supervising practices
- Failing to investigate or report the alleged sexual abuse
Your personal injury attorney will work to prove how the institution’s actions or inactions enabled your abuse. Establishing this critical link is key to holding them liable and securing the justice you deserve.
The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Lawsuit in Waldorf
Every state has its statute of limitations when it comes to filing a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse. In Waldorf, Maryland, adult survivors have three years from the date of the abuse or its discovery to seek justice through civil matters.
For survivors of childhood sexual abuse, there is no longer a statute of limitations in Maryland. The recent passing of the Maryland Child Victims Act makes it possible for these survivors to hold their abusers accountable at any point.
Types of Cases Handled by Our Waldorf Clergy Abuse Lawyers
Our experienced clergy abuse attorneys in Waldorf represent survivors who suffered sexual abuse by trusted religious leaders and institutions. We handle cases involving:
- Specific institutions like the Catholic Church, Protestant churches, and other religious organizations
- Historic cases of abuse
- Institutional cover-ups and enabling of abuse by church leadership
- Abuse in religious schools and youth programs
- Sexual abuse perpetrated by pastors, Catholic priests, and other religious leaders
Specifically, our law firm has experience pursuing justice for survivors of abuse in dioceses across Maryland, including the Archdiocese of Washington.
We handle lawsuits involving the Archdiocese’s history of transferring accused priests to different parishes and cases related to the Archdiocese’s recent identification of credibly accused clergy who served in Waldorf-area parishes.
Steps to Take if You Are a Victim
If you’ve been sexually abused or assaulted, the first thing that matters is to ensure your well-being. Beyond that, there are steps you should consider taking if you think you’ll want to pursue justice:
- Ensure that you’re safe and away from your abuser.
- If you can, seek medical attention to treat any injuries, whether visible or not.
- Document everything, such as dates, times, and locations of the abuse, to help strengthen your claim.
- Preserve any evidence, like the clothing you wore when the incident happened.
- Lean on your loved ones for support during this time, and look into local resources like the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA), the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), and the Center for Abused Persons (CAP).
- Speak with a sexual abuse attorney, like those at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, on how you can pursue legal action.
How Our Waldorf Clergy Abuse Attorneys Can Help
As trusted sexual abuse attorneys in Waldorf, we can help survivors in numerous ways. We’ve adapted a comprehensive, strategic, yet compassionate approach to handling these sensitive cases:
- We start with an initial, free consultation, during which we will listen to your claim and evaluate your legal options.
- After the free case review, our legal team will thoroughly investigate your claim and gather evidence to build a strong case.
- Your attorney will handle all legal filings and procedures involved in bringing a civil lawsuit against your abuser and any institutions that enabled the abuse.
- We handle all the negotiations with opposing counsel to settle outside of court.
- If necessary, we’ll represent you in court.
The Cost of Hiring a Waldorf Clergy Abuse Lawyer
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us no legal fees unless we settle your case. This arrangement allows you to focus on healing and moving forward.
Compensation for Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims
Those who’ve been sexually abused or assaulted might be entitled to compensation. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyer can help you seek justice and financial compensation for the abuse you endured. The different types of compensation we’ve been able to secure for our clients include:
- Therapy costs
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost wages
- Punitive damages
The maximum compensation you’re entitled to will depend on factors like:
- The severity and duration of the abuse
- The strength of the evidence
- The impact the abuse has had on your life
- The financial resources of the institution that’s liable
Contact a Waldorf Clergy Abuse Attorney Today!
If you or a loved one have experienced clergy abuse, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help. We’ll help you file a civil lawsuit against your abuser and the institution to hold them accountable for their actions and seek compensation for damages incurred. We have the experience, knowledge, and compassion to handle these cases.
Call (888) 424-5757 or fill out our online form.
Related Practice Areas
- Maryland Catholic Diocese Priest Abuse List
- Baltimore Clergy Abuse Lawyer
- Columbia Clergy Abuse Lawyer
- Germantown Clergy Abuse Lawyer
- Silver Spring Clergy Abuse Lawyer
Resources: [1] ADW