Georgia Attorneys Investigating Sexual Assault Claims Against the Roman Catholic Church Archdioceses & Priests
Accusations of sexual assault committed by Roman Catholic Church clergy members have created a harrowed reckoning for Catholic parishioners, including religious people in Georgia. Many innocent victims have come forward, claiming that trusted priests have committed sexual misconduct against them days, months, years, and decades before.
Unfortunately, church officials have often turned a blind eye to the inappropriate behavior instead of taking the necessary steps to ensure the predator is held accountable. In Georgia, innocent victims of clergy assault have numerous legal avenues to ensure justice is served.
It often takes decades for victims of sexual abuse to speak up and tell others after years of suffering in silence. If you are a sexual assault survivor and want justice, the compassionate network of affiliate attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, can help. Our caring team of legal representatives will fight on your behalf to protect your rights and provide a safe place to talk about what happened. Our Catholic Church sexual injury attorneys are here to listen to your story.
We have a comprehensive understanding of Georgia tort law and will use the legal system to ensure the perpetrator faces the consequences they deserve for their unacceptable behavior.
Sexual Assault Involving Clergy is Still a Problem
In October 2009, the Roman Catholic Church in Georgia paid out $4.24 million to resolve a case involving Waylon Brown. In 2018, news outlets posted information showing how the Catholic Church suppressed instances of sexual assault committed by priests in the northwest portion of the state.
One victim’s lawsuit noted that church officials had failed to inform the local community that the priest had posed a significant danger. The alleged victim served as a St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (Dalton) altar boy between 1976 and 1978 when he was between twelve and fifteen years of age.
The victim states that Father John Edwards sexually molested him throughout that time. The priest, who died in 1997, was in charge of direct supervision over the church’s altar boys and would sometimes take the minor children to his Acworth Lake Altoona house.
The Devastating Effects of Sexual Assault
Sexual assaulting anyone 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.
Seeking Victim Justice
Victims of sexual assault committed by clergymen can take legal action in a Georgia court to seek accountability and justice. An attorney working on behalf of the victim might be able to prove that the Roman Catholic Church in Georgia failed to protect vulnerable victims of assault.
In many incidents, church officials relocated the predator instead of ensuring the priest received that help he needed to ensure he did not victimize others.
The laws of Georgia permit surviving victims of sexual abuse to file a lawsuit against the sexual predator and any other entity that enabled the religious leader to do damage. However, victims only have a fixed time limit (Statute of Limitations) for submitting a claim for compensation.
Taking action now is a powerful tool to prevent further sexual abuse by priests and other clergymen.
Georgia Roman Catholic Church Diocese
In Georgia, the Catholic Church is the single largest religious group of all faiths statewide. The archdiocese, diocese, and their Bishops manage nearly 200 parishes and 206 Catholic schools across Georgia (listed below). The Church provides services to hundreds of thousands of registered Catholics living in 159 counties.
Georgia Dioceses
Catholic Diocese of Savannah
2170 E Victory Dr.
Savannah, GA 31404
(912) 201-4100
Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
2401 Lake Park Dr. SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(404) 920-7800
Georgia Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers are Ready to Help
Our network of attorneys understands how difficult it is to speak out about what a shameful clergy member did to you. We know that the church uses its power to push back and say that what happened was not wrong. However, with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, on your side, you will never stand there alone.
We will ensure that all those responsible will hear your shocking story when we settle your case or present evidence at trial.
Let us start working on your lawsuit today. Speak to us now so we can file all the necessary paperwork. Moving forward and beginning the process can help ensure no one else is ever sexually abused by a religious authority again.
We will obtain a monetary recovery on your behalf while protecting your rights. Contact us now at (888) 424-5757. All information you share during an initial, free consultation concerning your case will remain confidential.
All Georgia Parishes:
All Saints, Dunwoody
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Atlanta
Blessed Sacrament, Savannah
Capilla Inspiración, Dalton
Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savannah
Christ Our Hope, Lithonia
Christ Our King and Savior, Greensboro
Christ the King, Pine Mountain
Christ the Redeemer, Dawsonville
Church of the Incarnation, Donalsonville
Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Pooler
Corpus Christi, Stone Mountain
Divino Niño Jesús, Duluth
El Señor es mi Pastor, Trion
Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church, Roswell
Espiritu Santo, Atlanta
Good Samaritan, Ellijay
Good Shepherd, Cumming
Good Shepherd, Hazlehurst
Holy Cross, Atlanta
Holy Cross, Pembroke
Holy Family – Blakely, Blakely
Holy Family – Metter, Metter
Holy Family Knanaya Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Loganville
Holy Family, Columbus
Holy Family, Marietta
Holy Family, Willacoochee
Holy Name of Jesus Chinese Catholic Mission, Norcross
Holy Redeemer, Mcrae
Holy Spirit, Atlanta
Holy Spirit, Louisville
Holy Trinity, Peachtree City
Holy Trinity, Swainsboro
Holy Vietnamese Martyrs, Norcross
Iglesia Catolica San Jose, Lake Park
Immaculate Conception, Dublin
Immaculate Conception, Moultrie
Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Atlanta
Korean Martyrs, Doraville
Mary Our Queen, Peachtree Corners
Misión de Cristo Rey, Brookhaven
Most Blessed Sacrament, Atlanta
Most Holy Trinity, Augusta
Mother of God Byzantine-Ukrainian Catholic Church, Conyers
Nativity of Our Lady, Darien
Nuestra Señora de las Américas, Lilburn
Our Divine Savior, Tifton
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Sand Hill
Our Lady of LaSalette, Canton
Our Lady of Lourdes, Atlanta
Our Lady of Lourdes, Columbus
Our Lady of Lourdes, Port Wentworth
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Carrollton
Our Lady of the Assumption, Brookhaven
Our Lady of the Assumption, Sylvania
Our Lady of the Mount, Lookout Mountain
Our Lady of the Mountains, Jasper
Our Lady of Vietnam, Riverdale
Our Lady Star of the Sea, Saint Marys
Prince of Peace, Flowery Branch
Purification Heritage Center, Sharon
Queen of Angels, Thomson
The Resurrection of Our Lord, Savannah
Sacred Heart, Waynesboro
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hartwell
Sacred Heart, Griffin
Sacred Heart, Milledgeville
Sacred Heart, Savannah
Sacred Heart, Vidalia
Sacred Heart, Warner Robins
Saint Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Loganville
Saint Andrew Kim, Duluth
Saint Andrew, Roswell
Saint Ann, Marietta
Saint Anna, Monroe
Saint Anthony of Padua, Atlanta
Saint Anthony, Blue Ridge
Saint Augustine, Covington
Saint Benedict, Johns Creek
Saint Bernadette, Cedartown
Saint Brendan the Navigator, Cumming
Saint Brigid, Johns Creek
Saint Catherine Laboure, Jefferson
Saint Catherine of Siena, Kennesaw
Saint Clare of Assisi, Acworth
Saint Clement, Calhoun
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Warm Springs
Saint Francis de Sales, Mableton
Saint Francis of Assisi, Blairsville
Saint Francis of Assisi, Cartersville
Saint Gabriel, Fayetteville
Saint George, Newnan
Saint Gerard Majella, Fort Oglethorpe
Saint Helena, Clayton
Saint James the Apostle, McDonough
Saint James, Madison
Saint John Chrysostom Melkite, Atlanta
Saint John Neumann, Lilburn
Saint John Paul II, Gainesville
Saint John the Evangelist, Hapeville
Saint John Vianney, Lithia Springs
Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church, Sandy Springs
Saint Joseph, Athens
Saint Joseph, Dalton
Saint Joseph, Marietta
Saint Joseph, Washington
Saint Jude the Apostle, Atlanta
Saint Katharine Drexel, Trenton
Saint Lawrence, Lawrenceville
Saint Luke the Evangelist, Dahlonega
Saint Marguerite D’Youville, Lawrenceville
Saint Mark, Clarkesville
Saint Mary Magdalene, Newnan
Saint Mary Mother of God, Jackson
Saint Mary, Elberton
Saint Mary, Rome
Saint Mary, Toccoa
Saint Matthew, Tyrone
Saint Matthew, Winder
Saint Michael the Archangel, Woodstock
Saint Michael, Gainesville
Saint Monica, Duluth
Saint Oliver Plunkett, Snellville
Saint Patrick, Norcross
Saint Paul of the Cross, Atlanta
Saint Paul the Apostle, Cleveland
Saint Peter Chanel, Roswell
Saint Peter the Rock, The Rock
Saint Peter, LaGrange
Saint Philip Benizi, Jonesboro
Saint Pius X, Conyers
Saint Stephen the Martyr, Lilburn
Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, Douglasville
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Alpharetta
Saint Thomas More, Decatur
Saint Thomas the Apostle, Smyrna
Saint Toribio Romo, Chatsworth
Saint Vincent de Paul, Dallas
Saints Peter and Paul, Decatur
San Felipe de Jesus, Forest Park
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Atlanta
St. Andrew the Apostle, Reidsville
St. Ann, Alapaha
St. Anne, Richmond Hill
St. Anne, Columbus
St. Anthony of Padua, Ray City
St. Augustine, Thomasville
St. Benedict the Moor, Columbus
St. Benedict the Moor, Savannah
St. Bernadette, Millen
St. Boniface, Savannah
St. Christopher, Claxton
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Cairo
St. Frances Cabrini, Savannah
St. Frances of Rome, Alma
St. Francis of Assisi, Folkston
St. Francis Xavier, Brunswick
St. James, Savannah
St. Joan of Arc, Jefferson County
St. John the Evangelist, Valdosta
St. John Vianney, Camilla
St. Joseph, Jesup
St. Joseph, Waycross
St. Joseph the Worker, Bainbridge
St. Joseph, Augusta
St. Joseph, Macon
St. Jude, Glennville
St. Juliana, Fort Valley
St. Luke, Cuthbert
St. Mark, Eastman
St. Mary on the Hill, Augusta
St. Mary, Americus
St. Matthew, Statesboro
St. Michael, Montezuma
St. Michael, Tybee Island
St. Patrick, Kathleen
St. Paul, Douglas
St. Peter Claver, Macon
St. Peter the Apostle, Savannah
St. Rose of Lima, Baxley
St. Stephen, First Martyr, Hinesville
St. Teresa of Avila, Grovetown
St. Teresa, Albany
St. Theresa, Cordele
St. William, Fitzgerald
St. William, Saint Simons Island
St. William, Sandersville
Sts. Peter and Paul, Savannah
Transfiguration, Marietta
Georgia Catholic Schools:
All Saints, Dunwoody
Aquinas High School, Augusta
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Atlanta
Benedictine Military School, Savannah
Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, Savannah
Blessed Sacrament, Savannah
Capilla Inspiración, Dalton
Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savannah
Christ Our Hope, Lithonia
Christ Our King and Savior, Greensboro
Christ the King, Pine Mountain
Christ the Redeemer, Dawsonville
Church of the Incarnation, Donalsonville
Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Pooler
Corpus Christi, Stone Mountain
Divino Niño Jesús, Duluth
El Señor es mi Pastor, Trion
Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church, Roswell
Espiritu Santo, Atlanta
Good Samaritan, Ellijay
Good Shepherd, Cumming
Good Shepherd, Hazlehurst
Holy Cross, Atlanta
Holy Cross, Pembroke
Holy Family – Blakely, Blakely
Holy Family – Metter, Metter
Holy Family Knanaya Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Loganville
Holy Family, Columbus
Holy Family, Marietta
Holy Family, Willacoochee
Holy Name of Jesus Chinese Catholic Mission, Norcross
Holy Redeemer, Mcrae
Holy Spirit, Atlanta
Holy Spirit, Louisville
Holy Trinity, Peachtree City
Holy Trinity, Swainsboro
Holy Vietnamese Martyrs, Norcross
Iglesia Catolica San Jose, Lake Park
Immaculate Conception Catholic School, Augusta
Immaculate Conception, Dublin
Immaculate Conception, Moultrie
Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Atlanta
Korean Martyrs, Doraville
Mary Our Queen, Peachtree Corners
Misión de Cristo Rey, Brookhaven
Most Blessed Sacrament, Atlanta
Most Holy Trinity, Augusta
Mother of God Byzantine-Ukrainian Catholic Church, Conyers
Mount De Sales Academy, Macon
Nativity of Our Lady, Darien
Nuestra Señora de las Américas, Lilburn
Our Divine Saviour, Tifton
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Sand Hill
Our Lady of LaSalette, Canton
Our Lady of Lourdes, Atlanta
Our Lady of Lourdes, Columbus
Our Lady of Lourdes, Port Wentworth
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Carrollton
Our Lady of the Assumption, Brookhaven
Our Lady of the Assumption, Sylvania
Our Lady of the Mount, Lookout Mountain
Our Lady of the Mountains, Jasper
Our Lady of Vietnam, Riverdale
Our Lady Star of the Sea, Saint Marys
Prince of Peace, Flowery Branch
Purification Heritage Center, Sharon
Queen of Angels, Thomson
Resurrection of Our Lord, Savannah
Sacred Heart , Waynesboro
Sacred Heart Catholic School, Warner Robins
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hartwell
Sacred Heart, Griffin
Sacred Heart, Milledgeville
Sacred Heart, Savannah
Sacred Heart, Vidalia
Sacred Heart, Warner Robins
Saint Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Loganville
Saint Andrew Kim, Duluth
Saint Andrew, Roswell
Saint Ann, Marietta
Saint Anna, Monroe
Saint Anthony of Padua, Atlanta
Saint Anthony, Blue Ridge
Saint Augustine, Covington
Saint Benedict, Johns Creek
Saint Bernadette, Cedartown
Saint Brendan the Navigator, Cumming
Saint Brigid, Johns Creek
Saint Catherine Laboure, Jefferson
Saint Catherine of Siena, Kennesaw
Saint Clare of Assisi, Acworth
Saint Clement, Calhoun
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Warm Springs
Saint Francis de Sales, Mableton
Saint Francis of Assisi, Blairsville
Saint Francis of Assisi, Cartersville
Saint Gabriel, Fayetteville
Saint George, Newnan
Saint Gerard Majella, Fort Oglethorpe
Saint Helena, Clayton
Saint James the Apostle, McDonough
Saint James, Madison
Saint John Chrysostom Melkite, Atlanta
Saint John Neumann, Lilburn
Saint John Paul II, Gainesville
Saint John the Evangelist, Hapeville
Saint John Vianney, Lithia Springs
Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church, Sandy Springs