California Clergy Sexual Abuse Claims

California clergy sexual abuse claims. How common are they? Parents try to shield their children from harm from the day they are born. Keeping your child safe is a full-time job, and there are potential problems at every turn. One of the places that you likely feel is a safe haven for your child is church. Unfortunately, child sexual abuse can and does happen at the hands of clergy members. 

If your child was the victim of sexual abuse in California, you may consult with a California child sexual abuse lawyer at Beck Law P.C.

California Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Claims

Child sexual abuse is more common than you may realize. Thousands of child sexual abuse complaints are filed each year, and many of them are against clergy. More than 1,500 claims were filed earlier this year against the California Catholic church. Lawsuits were filed against the Diocese of Oakland, Diocese of Santa Rosa, Diocese of San Diego, and others. Claims are against clergy members, church employees, and others, as well as the church organizations. 

Molestation By A Person of Trust

Child sexual abuse is a form of child molestation that may occur once, but more often, is a pattern of bad behavior. A person of trust, such as a clergy member, is a person who has access to children and has the ability to spend time alone with them. A molester may spend quite a bit of time grooming a child. They often choose vulnerable children, such as those who are young or who have issues at home. Children trust those who are in positions of power, especially clergy members such as patients or pastors. Parents also often trust these people and are usually not aware of the possible danger their child is facing. 

Who is Liable for Child Sexual Abuse?

The perpetrator of child sexual molestation is certainly responsible for his or her actions. Regardless of whether a person was charged criminally, the responsible party can and should be held liable for their actions. If a member of the clergy committed sexual molestation against a child, the church or diocese can be held accountable. A victim may file a lawsuit against not only the perpetrator but also the organization. That is possible in cases where the church was aware of the misconduct and failed to do anything about it. 

How to File a Sexual Abuse Claim Against the Clergy

So far, the Catholic churches of the United States have paid billions of dollars to victims of clergy child sexual abuse. Many children do not report sexual abuse at the time it is happening. Kids may feel ashamed, or they might have been made to feel the behavior is fine. Whatever the reason, it might not be too late to file a claim. People often come to terms with the abuse once they reach adulthood.

California sexual abuse law now generally allows a new victim of child sexual abuse to report it until they are age 40. This age was recently increased from the previous age limit of 26. If you are a victim of child sexual abuse, you can file a claim against the appropriate clergy or church. Our team of lawyers is here to assist you through the process so you can seek justice, begin healing, and get the compensation you deserve.

Contact our California child sexual abuse attorney at Beck Law today by calling (707) 576-7175 to schedule a confidential consultation with our legal team.