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Churches, mosques, synagogues, and other places of worship are, for many people, safe places in which they can find solace and religious instruction. But when religious leaders abuse their positions of power by harming those who come to them for guidance, and institutions don’t do anything to help, a West Virginia clergy sexual abuse lawyer will help you fight for justice.
Forbes Law Offices provides no-cost, no-obligation case evaluations to survivors of childhood clergy abuse and their families. These are private, confidential meetings in which you’ll be matched with an attorney who has the expertise and background needed to help you navigate your claim, no matter how complex or how long it’s been.
Please contact us through our secure online contact form or by phone to schedule your first free consultation.
In the United States, sexual abuse committed by clergy members is most often associated with the Catholic Church. According to Cornell University, the history of systemic abuse within Catholicism dates back almost to the very beginning of its founding, with historical records detailing repeated abusive behaviors over the centuries.
And in just the last 70 years, Catholic clergy members in France abused an estimated 200,000 children. Most of the victims were boys between the ages of 10 and 13.
As reported by PennLive, Catholic clergy members have been faced with public accusations of child sex crimes in the United States since the 1980s. However, it wasn’t until 2002 when an investigation into the Archdiocese of Boston brought the decades-long systemic abuse to the forefront of Americans’ attention.
The Catholic Church isn’t the only religious institution that has engaged (and continues to engage) in the long-term and systematic abuse of its youngest members. If you or your child were targeted by a religious leader or member such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, minister, imam, deacon, steward, Sunday school teacher, or youth leader, you have the right to take a legal stand.
This is your opportunity to not only find justice for yourself but to take action that can potentially protect other children from being targeted by the same individual or institution.
Forbes Law Offices is standing by to discuss your legal options with you.
In 2019, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston released a list of all clergy members who had been “credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.” A second list includes clergy from other Dioceses and regions who had, at one point or another, served here in West Virginia. Combined, these lists include 40 alleged perpetrators. Many have multiple accusations against them.
The criteria for credible accusations are outlined by the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which was created by the 2002 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
However, with the Catholic Church’s historic systematic coverup of ongoing abuse within their religious institutions, it is important to note the possibility of many credible accusations being wrongfully categorized as not credible.
Anyone who was abused, molested, raped, or harmed by a clergy member in West Virginia (even if they do not appear on either of the Diocese’s official lists) has the right to meet with an attorney in a free and confidential setting to learn about their legal options.
Any form of forced, unwanted, or coerced sexual abuse committed by a trusted adult is a traumatic experience. For children whose minds and bodies are still developing, even one instance of sexual assault, molestation, or rape will almost always result in some form of lasting physical or psychological damage.
Survivors of childhood clergy sexual abuse may deal with:
Children who have experienced rape or abuse in the past are also more likely to be abused again in the future and are at an increased risk for exploitation by others—even as adults.
Forbes Law Offices wants to be part of the solution. And while the journey to healing looks different for every person, many find holding their abusers and complicit organizations responsible for their actions to be a key aspect of moving forward.
In West Virginia, members of the clergy and religious leaders are mandatory reporters of both child abuse and neglect. This means that in cases of suspected sexual abuse, the typical clergy-penitent privilege is denied.
Any clergy member, religious leader, member of the church, or religious institution must report any suspicions of childhood sexual abuse, neglect, or harm.
There are 27 other states that include religious leaders as mandatory reporters. Despite this, clergy and religious institutions often shield one another from accusations of abuse or impropriety. This is a centuries-old, systemic approach to covering up abuse committed by clergy members. And it’s an approach that we won’t stand for anymore.
Every West Virginia clergy sexual abuse attorney at Forbes Law Offices is united in their goal to end childhood sexual abuse. Our legal advocacy plays an important role in holding abusers, molesters, and rapists accountable for all the harm and trauma that they’ve caused.
When we take on a case involving clergy sexual abuse, it is our way of sending a powerful message to abusers and those who cover for them—your time of abusing power is coming to an end.
We have the background, knowledge, and expertise needed to hold religious leaders and institutions legally liable for everything that they’ve put children like you or your kids through.
To learn more about our compassionate and powerful legal representation, please contact us for a free and confidential case evaluation.
Taking the first step of scheduling a no-cost, no-obligation case consultation can be difficult, especially if your legal matter involves traumatic experiences such as childhood sexual abuse. If you’re still not sure about what your next move will be, we have compiled answers to a few FAQs that you may find helpful.
Yes, if you or your child were sexually abused by a clergy member, you retain the legal right to file a lawsuit. These types of lawsuits can be brought against the abuser and the institutions that covered up for them, or that allowed the sexual misconduct to continue unfettered.
Every civil claim in West Virginia is limited by something called the statute of limitations. In cases involving sexual abuse of children by clergy members or religious leaders, the statute of limitations is either four years after discovery or 18 years after reaching the age of majority, whichever provides the longest period of time.
Yes, you can still file a lawsuit even if you never told anyone about what happened to you. We understand that many children do not disclose the abuse they’ve endured. While it’s true that evidence can decline or even disappear over time, we have extensive experience litigating highly complex cases involving childhood sexual abuse and are prepared to handle claims that might not have witness testimony from the time that the abuse took place.
At Forbes Law Offices, we recognize the uniquely sensitive nature of cases involving clergy childhood sex abuse. It is our goal to provide unparalleled legal representation with a compassionate and caring approach. We want you to feel safe when you speak with us. Because at our law firm, we listen to survivors, and we believe their stories.
We’re ready to help. Please contact us online or by phone and bring all questions and concerns you have to your free consultation.
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