New Mexico Attorneys Investigating Sexual Assault Claims Against the Roman Catholic Church Archdioceses
For over seventy years, many Roman Catholic religious leaders throughout the United States, including in New Mexico, sexually abused innocent children and young adults. As these cases were uncovered, the local dioceses throughout the state responded by relocating the predatory priests instead of reporting the incidents to local law enforcement.
Without accountability, the sexual predators found new victims to molest. Only the most egregious cases have been prosecuted had county courthouses or resolved through out-of-court settlements and jury trial awards.
Speaking up and telling others about the deplorable sexual abuse experience usually happens after decades 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 clergy sexual abuse injury attorneys are here to listen to your story. We will use our comprehensive understanding of New Mexico tort law to win your case to ensure the sexual predator faces financial consequences.
Clergy Sexual Assault – Will It Continue?
In September 2019, the New Mexico courts sentenced a former priest to thirty years after being found guilty of sexually assaulting victims. The Reverend once served as an Albuquerque parish pastor and a Kirkland Air Force Base chaplain starting back in the 1960s.
The 81-one-year-old Reverend was charged with aggravated sexual abuse (six counts) and abuse of sexual misconduct with a minor under twelve (one count). The former Hartford Archdiocese priest had become a fugitive from justice decades ago and was extradited from Morocco back to the United States in 2017.
The Devastating Effects of Sexual Assault
The aftermath of being sexually assaulted can negatively alter the victim’s well-being. Sexual abuse survivors can suffer from problematic 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.
Get Justice Now
In June 2019, over 300 individuals filed claims against the Roman Catholic Church in New Mexico, alleging sexual misconduct by seventy-eight clergy members. Most complaints that were filed involved accusations of inappropriate sexual molestation by religious leaders employed by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
Before the latest rounds of filed claims, attorneys throughout New Mexico had already settled thousands of claims with the Roman Catholic Church as far back as the 1990s. Church officials state that the Archdiocese may be seeking bankruptcy protection due to the financial devastation of paying out large sums of money to the victims.
New Mexico Roman Catholic Church Diocese
In New Mexico, the Catholic Church is the single largest religious group of all faiths statewide. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe, two dioceses, and their Bishops manage more than 225 parishes, and thirty-seven Catholic schools thought New Mexico (listed below). The Church provides services to thousands of registered Catholics living in thirty-three counties.
New Mexico Dioceses
Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces
1280 Med Park Dr
Las Cruces, NM 88005
(575) 523-7577
Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup
503 Rte 66 B
Gallup, NM 87301
(505) 863-4406
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe
4000 St Josephs Pl NW
Albuquerque, NM 87120
(505) 831-8100
Bishop: John Charles Wester
Cathedral: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
New Mexico Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorneys Are Ready to Help
Our network of attorneys understands the difficulty it takes to speak out about the vile actions of what a despicable clergy member did to you. We know the power of the Catholic Church and how they tend to fight back saying nothing occurred.
However, with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, on your side, you will never face them alone. We can assure you that your shocking story will be heard by all those responsible when settling your case or presenting evidence at trial.
Let us open your case today 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 New Mexico Churches:
Aquinas Newman Center Catholic Parish, Albuquerque
Assumption Parish Catholic Parish, Roswell
Basilica of San Albino Catholic Parish, Mesilla
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish, Santa Fe
Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Parish, Las Cruces
Christ the King Parish, Shiprock
Church of the Ascension Catholic Parish, Albuquerque
Church of the Incarnation Catholic Parish, Rio Rancho
Cristo Rey Catholic Parish, Santa Fe
Cristo Rey Mission Catholic Parish, Malaga
Cure of Ars House of Discernment, Gallup
Estancia Valley Catholic Parish Catholic Parish, Moriarty