Joliet Diocese Clergy Abuse Lawyer

The Catholic Diocese is one of the most powerful institutions in the world. The church has stood as a beacon for faith, community, and tradition for centuries. Unfortunately, in recent decades, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet has become associated with a far more painful subject: allegations of sexual misconduct.

Priests and other clergy members in the Joliet, IL Diocese have allegedly used their positions of power to abuse the most vulnerable members of their congregations. Through the years, more and more victims have come forward with stories of trusted faith leaders taking advantage of their roles as mentors to prey upon their followers. Children, in particular, have fallen victim to this predatory behavior.

The sexual abuse crisis in the church has reached virtually every corner of the globe, and the Diocese of Joliet has not been exempt. Though it is difficult to imagine our community leaders betraying the trust of their congregations, it is even harder to swallow the cover-up of such abuse.

Without legal action, the full extent of the church’s sexual abuse crisis may never be uncovered. That’s why so many survivors are lending their voices to the civil cases that help bring abusers to justice and hold the Catholic Church accountable for their role.

Lawyers Committed to Holding Wrongdoers Accountable in Civil Lawsuits

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is committed to holding the Joliet Diocese accountable for the acts of their priests and other officials who have sexually abused and assaulted others. We have experience prosecuting clergy abuse cases involving the sexual abuse of children and stand ready to assist you with your case. Contact a Joliet Diocese clergy abuse lawyer today.

Allegations of Abuse in the Diocese of Joliet

In 2018, the Diocese of Joliet agreed to settle a $1.4 million lawsuit filed by sexual abuse survivors. The three men who filed the suit claim a church bishop repeatedly molested them when they were children. Despite credible allegations of abuse against him, the priest was allowed to continue his role in the church for years. Lawyers say the church moved him from parish to parish instead of dismissing him from his post.

While these three survivors may have achieved some justice, they are far from the only victims in the Diocese of Joliet. A recent report named 43 different Joliet priests allegedly responsible for the abuse of worshippers. Some priests included in the report have faced criminal charges for their behavior. Others have passed away. Many remain working as faith leaders to this day.

Widespread Abuse in the Catholic Church

Initial allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic church members were not made public until the 1980s, but accusations against abusive clergy members have been levied for far longer. Media coverage in the 80s helped publicize the phenomenon, and more and more victims found their voices with time. Abused children grew up to recount decades of abuse, and an increasingly global society shone a light on the pervasive nature of the problem.

Protected Predators by Church Officials

Most people have heard about abuse in the Catholic Church, but few realize the extent of the crisis. Even fewer people know about the church’s attempts to cover up the crimes committed by their clergy.

Instead of turning abusers over to the police, church leaders have repeatedly handled matters internally. Internal accountability may seem like a good option, but it ignores the criminal behavior of the priests responsible for the abuse. Too often, investigations handled by the Catholic Church result in a mere shuffling of predators into new populations, exposing a fresh group of believers to the same old abusers.

Abuse allegations are alarming for the Catholic Church. Rather than own its role in the crisis and risk even more bad press and litigation, the church has redoubled its efforts to hide the full extent of the issue. This inevitably leads to the protection of abusers and the betrayal of victims.

The Lingering Impact on Survivors

Survivors of sexual abuse carry the emotional load of their experience for a lifetime. In many cases, victims were children at the time of their abuse. Regardless of whether they endured ongoing abuse or a one-off encounter, the scars of such mistreatment can impact a person unexpectedly.

Predators don’t select their victims at random. They often choose their congregations’ most innocent, vulnerable members, as they are less likely to speak up and report abuse to the police. Taking advantage of their position in the community, the Catholic priests accused of abuse preyed upon the naive and defenseless to better protect themselves.

Sexual abuse survivors may develop depression, can suffer from anxiety, and develop eating disorders. Others experience a loss of faith. While prosecution of criminal behavior can bring some closure for victims, no amount of legal action can undo the damage done. Tragically, a majority of sexual abusers will never be brought to justice.

Powerful Advocacy for Survivors of Sex Abuse in the Joliet Church

If you’ve suffered sexual abuse from priests and Church officials employed in the Diocese of Joliet, our law firm may be able to help. We’re committed to fighting for the rights of survivors and holding abusive priests responsible for their actions.

Our law firm recognizes the powerlessness many survivors feel in the wake of such abuse. We offer discreet, no-pressure consultations for those hoping to explore their legal options. Schedule your appointment now with a clergy sexual abuse attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC.

Resources:

• Father John Burke Sex Abuse News Articles