Arizona Attorneys Investigating Sexual Assault Claims Against the Roman Catholic Church Archdioceses & Clergy

Arizona Catholic church clergy abuse

Arizona Catholic church clergy abuse Victims of sexual abuse committed by trusted religious leaders can create devastating, lifelong trauma for the survivors. Only recently have parishioners come to know the full extent of the damage done by predatory priests and the diocese’s culpability of covering up cases to protect the clergy.

Victims and family members continue to struggle to understand why the Roman Catholic Church in Arizona and the Diocese of Phoenix slowly responded when addressing abuse allegations. Many parishioners believe the church officials were only interested in protecting the church’s reputation and not helping survivors. In the worst cases, they were responsible for a cover-up that prevented the sexual misconduct allegations from ever seeing the light of day.

Our law firm understands the courage takes for the sexually assaulted victim to speak out and identify the accused priests that caused them harm.

The compassionate network of affiliate attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, can help you or a loved one with legal assistance involving surviving sexual assault. We will work closely with you while helping you take strong legal action.

Our clergy sexual assault attorneys are ready to listen to your story. We use our comprehensive knowledge of Arizona tort law and the legal system to ensure the sexual predator faces the consequences they deserve for their unacceptable behavior.

Clergy Sexual Assault Remains a Problem

As recently as 2019, the Catholic Church released its Diocesan list that identified religious leaders who were credibly accused of sexual assault against underage children, including twenty-seven men that served parishioners in Arizona.

Some of these cases dealing Catholic priests date back decades. The last list released by the diocese in 2012 revealed credible sexual abuse claims against religious leaders, including two priests that served in Phoenix.

The Devastating Effects of Sexual Assault

Sex abuse can cause lifelong devastation that negatively alters the victim’s well-being. Children and adults who have been sexually assaulted can suffer from significant sleeping disorders, ongoing depression, substance abuse, self-injury, and suicide, including suicidal ideation (thinking about suicide).

Young children and teenage victims might develop negative eating habits, begin living an over-sexualized lifestyle, or engage in any form of risky behavior after experiencing child sex abuse.

Finding Justice for Sex Abuse Victims

In 2005, the Roman Catholic Church settled abuse cases involving forty-five victims, including survivors of sexual assault in Tucson. Three years earlier, in 2002, the Diocese of Tucson settled cases involving eleven sexual abuse survivors who were assaulted by four priests, including Frs. Byrne, de la Pierre, Teta, and Trupia. In 2003, the Tucson Diocese resolved cases involving four victims of sexual assault by a lay teacher educating children.

Victims of abusive clergy members have been pushing the state’s attorney-general to open an investigation of the Catholic Church. However, as of May 2020, there was no investigation or any reports of a grand jury being convened.

Arizona Roman Catholic Church Diocese

In Arizona, the Catholic Church is the single largest religious group of all faiths statewide. The two dioceses and their Bishops manage more than 150 parishes and sixty-five Catholic schools across Arizona (listed below). The Church provides services to hundreds of thousands of registered Catholics living in fifteen counties.

Arizona Dioceses

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
400 E Monroe St
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 354-2000
Bishop: Thomas Olmsted
Cathedral: Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
192 S Stone Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 838-2500
Bishop: Edward Weisenburger
Cathedral: St. Augustine Cathedral Church

Arizona Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorneys Are Ready to Help

Our network of lawyers knows the challenges you have in talking about the unspeakable actions that a clergy member did to you. We know the Catholic Church may try to defend against the allegations leveled against abusive priests. They may contest your lawsuit or try to declare bankruptcy to keep you from getting the financial compensation that you deserve.

We can work with plaintiffs in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Mesa, Glendale or anywhere across the state. We are dedicated to working with you to make sure that your allegations are heard in court if your case is not settled before then.

Reliving child sexual abuse is difficult and traumatic. A compassionate lawyer who fights for you aggressively when litigating your civil claim is what you need.

Let us begin working on your case today to file a claim or lawsuit. We can help you as you seek to hold the clergy accused of sexual abuse and the catholic bishops that protected them accountable for the child molestation to which you were subjected. Even if they are decades old, sexual abuse allegations against roman catholic priests must still be heard.

Arizona has given a 19-month window for victims of clergy abuse to file lawsuits even if the statute of limitations in their case has expired. However, you must act fast because this period expires at the end of 2020. There is no word on whether COVID-19 will cause the state to change its law again.

Contact the sexual abuse lawyers at our law firm now at (888) 424-5757. All information you share during an initial, free consultation concerning your case will remain confidential.