Diocese of Erie ACCUSED PRIESTS

In 2018, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General organized a grand jury with the sole purpose of investigating claims of sexual abuse within six of the eight dioceses of Pennsylvania. This investigation went on for two years with allegations across the state against over 300 priests and from more than 1,000 child victims, all known and found within Church records.

After the investigation, the attorney general’s office published an 800-page Grand Jury Report with all findings and recommendations. For the Diocese of Erie, this report identified 41 priests having evidence of child sexual abuse allegations against them.

The report also explained how the Diocese worked to cover up these incidents and hide or silence the victims for years. Priests avoided discipline, and the Church simply reassigned them to other placements, keeping them in the ministry even after receiving complaints. The Diocese reached settlement agreements with victims that contained confidentiality agreements prohibiting the harmed individuals from speaking out. In many instances, the Diocese attempted to stop victims from reporting the abuse to law enforcement authorities and even pressured law enforcement to stop investigations.

Most of the time, the Diocese conducted its own investigation without ever reporting the crime to the authorities. These actions by the Diocese allowed the abuse to remain prevalent throughout the Diocese of Erie for decades.

In November 2018, in response to the Grand Jury Report, the Diocese of Erie created an independently administered compensation fund for victims of abuse by clergy and lay members of the Diocese. Starting in February 2019, child sexual abuse survivors could submit claims until August 2019. Each claimant underwent an interview, and the Diocese investigated the incident before determining and doling out payments based on different factors.

The Diocese made its final payments via the compensation fund in March 2021 and closed out the program. In its final report from the fund, the Diocese announced that it spent $31.35 million investigating and closing out cases, including $16.6 million paid to abuse victims.

Pennsylvania doesn’t have a look-back window in place like other states, which would allow victims of childhood sexual abuse to file civil claims for compensation, no matter the victim’s current age or how long ago the abuse happened. The compensation fund, thereby, became the only way for many victims whose cases fell outside the state’s statute of limitations to receive compensation from the Diocese.

House Bill 14, providing a two-year look-back window, is in the works, but Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward brought it to a halt when she deemed it unconstitutional. Instead, Pennsylvania survivors of child sex abuse might see the law passed as an amendment to the state constitution by late 2022 or early 2023.

In August 2020, 31 lawsuits were pending against the Diocese of Erie alleging sex abuse. The victims took the route of a fraud-based claim to secure compensation after the publication of the Grand Jury Report in August 2018, when they claim they became aware that the Diocese was actively involved in covering up child sexual abuse by its clergy members. Since the statute of limitations for fraud-based claims is two years from discovering the fraud, the court permitted these claims.

Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims and the lack of a look-back law can be complicated for some child survivors, especially if their abuse happened before legislation changes in 2019. It’s important to contact a sexual abuse attorney who can determine your standing to sue and advocate for your right to the compensation you deserve for your continued healing and recovery.

If you or someone you loved suffered sexual abuse at the Diocese of Erie, please contact our determined and compassionate lawyers at Herman Law today for a free consultation to learn about your legal rights.