Mississippi Attorneys Investigating Sexual Assault Claims Against Roman Catholic Church Dioceses
Are you suffering from the aftermath of sexual abuse committed by a priest, pastor, bishop, brother, sister, or other religious leaders? You are not alone. Others who had a trusted relationship with the Catholic Church were taken advantage of by clergy members through sexual molestation and inappropriate contact.
In many cases, the devastating misuse of the religious leader’s position left a wake of survivors coping with repressive memories and unimaginable thoughts of what occurred. Many of those suffering from a sexual assault were told to keep quiet for fear of retaliation, exposure, or revictimization.
It often takes decades for victims of sexual abuse to speak up and tell others after years of suffering in silence. If you or your loved one is the victim of sexual assault, the compassionate network of affiliate attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, can provide immediate legal assistance.
Our caring team of lawyers can protect your rights and help you speak openly about what happened. Our clergy sexual assault injury attorneys are ready to listen to your story. We have a comprehensive understanding of Mississippi tort law and will use the legal system to ensure the predator faces the consequences they deserve for their unacceptable behavior.
Sexual Assault with Clergy Remains a Problem
In 2019, the Jackson Diocese published a list naming priests credibly accused of sexual assault. The report included Bishop Joseph Kopacz’s statement that encourages sexual assault victims harmed by priests, pastors, clergy members, and employees to speak out and notify the church of the wrongdoing. Over 48,000 registered Catholics participate in the diocese and reside in over sixty-five different counties.
Three clergy members on the list face accusations of sexually abusing underage children. One of the religious leaders was convicted and is now serving a decades-long prison sentence after being found guilty of sexually abusing an adolescent boy. Another priest faces allegations of sexually assaulting teenage girls back in the 1980s in Biloxi.
The Devastating Effects of Sexual Assault
Sexual assaulting anyone can cause lifelong devastation that negatively alters the victim’s well-being. Sexually assaulted adults and children can suffer from significant sleeping disorders, ongoing depression, substance abuse, self-injury, and suicide, including suicidal ideation (thinking about suicide).
Teenaged and younger victims might develop negative eating habits, begin living an over-sexualized lifestyle, or engage in any form of risky behavior.
Holding the Abuser Accountable
In 2019, the Associated Press reported that Mississippi Roman Catholic Church officials had secretly settled out of court with two African American men in cases involving inappropriate sexual contact committed by priests. The church paid each of them $15,000 to keep quiet about allegations of sexual assault involving religious leaders.
The abuse allegedly occurred during the 1990s when both men were St. Francis of Assisi Elementary school students in Greenwood.
However, the amount paid was significantly lower in these cases compared to other sexual assault survivors nationwide that are part of the church’s abuse scandal. Many victims, including others in Greenwood and Jackson Dioceses, received an average payment of over $250,000 per victim.
Mississippi Roman Catholic Church Diocese
In Mississippi, the Catholic Church is the single largest religious group of all faiths statewide. The two dioceses and their Bishops manage more than 150 Churches and thirty-four Catholic schools throughout the state (listed below). The Church provides services to thousands of registered Catholics living in eighty-two counties.
Mississippi Dioceses
Roman Catholic Diocese of Biloxi
1790 Popp’s Ferry Rd
Biloxi, MS 39532
Bishop: Louis Frederick Kihneman
(228) 702-2100
Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson
237 E Amite St
Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 969-1880
Bishop: Joseph Kopacz
Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Peter
Mississippi Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers are Ready to Help
Our network of lawyers knows the challenges you face in discussing the unspeakable actions that a clergy member did to you. We know the Catholic Church will always wield its power, saying nothing wrong happened to those who stepped forward speak about victimization.
However, with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, on your side, you will not face them alone. We can assure you that all those responsible for your abuse will hear your shocking story at trial or when settling your case.
Let us open your case today. Talk to us now so we can start filing all the necessary paperwork. Your actions today can ensure that no one else will ever be sexually assaulted by the religious authority again.
We will protect your rights, successfully resolve your case, and obtain financial compensation. Contact us now at (888) 424-5757. All information you share during an initial, free consultation concerning your case will remain confidential.
All Mississippi Churches:
All Saints Catholic Parish, Belzoni
Annunciation Catholic Parish, Columbus
Annunciation Parish, Kiln
Assumption of B.V.M. Catholic Parish, Natchez
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish, Biloxi
Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic Parish, Jackson
Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, Biloxi
Christ the King Catholic Parish, Jackson
Christ the King Catholic Parish, Southaven
Christ the King Mission Catholic Parish, Fulton
Christ the King Mission, Vancleave
Corpus Christi Catholic Parish, Macon
Delmas/ Dedeaux Community, Our Lady of Fatima Parish
D’Iberville, Sacred Heart Parish, Hattiesburg
Good Shepherd Catholic Parish, Robinsonville
Holy Child Jesus Catholic Parish, Canton
Holy Cross Catholic Parish, Philadelphia
Holy Family Catholic Parish, Jackson
Holy Family Catholic Parish, Natchez
Holy Family Mission Catholic Parish, Gloster
Holy Family Parish, Pass Christian
Holy Ghost Catholic Parish, Jackson
Holy Rosary Catholic Parish, Philadelphia
Holy Rosary Parish, Hattiesburg
Holy Savior Catholic Parish, Clinton
Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Hernando
Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Vancleave
Holy Trinity Mission, Leakesville
Holy Trinity Parish, Columbia
Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish, Clarksdale
Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish, Hollandale
Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish, Indianola
Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish, Raymond
Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish, West Point
Immaculate Conception Parish, Laurel
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Parish, Greenwood
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Parish, Houston
Keesler Air Force Base, Our Lady of Victories Parish
Most Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Pass Christian
Nativity B.V.M. Cathedral Parish, Biloxi
Our Lady of Chartres Mission, Delmas / Dedeaux Community
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Parish, Biloxi
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Lumberton
Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Parish, Bay St. Louis
Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Keesler Air Force Base
Our Lady of Victories Catholic Parish, Cleveland
Our Lady of Victories Parish, Pascagoula
Our Mother of Mercy Mission Catholic Parish, Anguilla
Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Parish, Pass Christian
Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, Biloxi
Queen of Peace Catholic Parish, Olive Branch
Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Camden
Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Canton
Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Greenville
Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Louisville
Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Rosedale
Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Winona
Sacred Heart Parish, D’Iberville
Sacred Heart Parish, Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg
Sacred Heart Parish, Pascagoula, Pascagoula
Sacred Heart Parish, Pass Christian, Pass Christian
St. Alphonsus Catholic Parish, McComb
St. Alphonsus Parish, Ocean Springs
St. Ann Mission, Moss Point
St. Ann Catholic Parish, Bay St. Louis
St. Ann Catholic Parish, Lizana
St. Anne Catholic Parish, Carthage
St. Anne Catholic Parish, Fayette
St. Anne Catholic Parish, Newton
St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Parish, Indianola
St. Bernadette Parish, Waynesboro
St. Catherine Mission Catholic Parish, Conehatta
St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Picayune
St. Christopher Catholic Parish, Pontotoc
St. Clare Catholic Parish, Waveland
St. Elizabeth Catholic Parish, Clarksdale
St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Ocean Springs
St. Fabian Parish, Hattiesburg
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish, Aberdeen
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish, Booneville
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish, Brookhaven
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish, Greenwood
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish, Madison
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish, New Albany
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish, Shaw
St. Francis Xavier Parish, Wiggins
St. Gregory the Great Catholic Parish, Senatobia
St. Helen Catholic Parish, Amory
St. James Catholic Parish, Leland
St. James Catholic Parish, Magnolia
St. James Catholic Parish, Tupelo
St. James Parish, Gulfport
St. James the Less Catholic Parish, Corinth
St. John Catholic Parish, Charleston
St. John Catholic Parish, Crystal Springs
St. John Catholic Parish, Oxford
St. John Mission, Lakeshore
St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish, Cranfield
St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish, Sardis
St. John the Evangelist Parish, Gulfport
St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Gluckstadt
St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Greenville
St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Holly Springs
St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Meridian
St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Port Gibson
St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Starkville
St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Woodville
St. Joseph Chapel, Pearlington
St. Joseph Mission, Poplarville
St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Gulfport
St. Joseph the Worker Parish, CBC, Gulfport
St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Moss Point, Moss Point