California Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorney

Did you or someone you know experience sexual abuse in California by a priest, pastor, or clergy member? If you think you may have, consider reaching out to our California sexual abuse attorneys to discuss your experience. We offer free, confidential consultations.

For several years now the media worldwide has exposed incidents of clergy members and Catholic priests preying on children. The revelations of the abuse survivors regarding the depths of suffering they have endured throughout their lives after the abuse have simply reinforced the public’s opinion that our children must be protected and justice must be available to survivors of sex crimes in California.

If you or a loved one has been sexually assaulted, molested, or subjected to any sexual behavior that has made you uncomfortable, it is important that you consult a respected California clergy sexual abuse lawyer who is prepared to take action and file a claim for damages. Our law firm can help you with the first steps to filing a claim.

Why Trust Manly, Stewart & Finaldi With Your Child Sexual Abuse Case?

  • Our founder and Los Angeles sexual abuse attorney, John C. Manly, has represented sexual assault victims for more than 20 years.
  • Our lawyers have committed themselves to going up against sexual abusers in Los Angeles. We are extremely passionate plaintiff’s attorneys.
  • Our law firm is a national leader in representing sexual abuse and assault victims. We are not afraid to go up against powerful institutions.
  • We have recovered more than $2 billion for survivors of sexual abuse, including many past cases involving childhood sexual abuse and assault.

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“One of the best reputable lawyers in the country, I feel honored to be a client of theirs.” – Vanessa R.

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Nationally Recognized

We are America’s leading sexual abuse law firm. Our firm has received national coverage on multiple news stations and newspapers for the work that we have done including child sexual abuse cases.

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The Legal Remedy to Devastating Clergy Abuse

There are many children and adults who have been the victims of clergy abuse or harassment, whether in the work environment or as a parishioner of a specific religious group. Sexual harassment can be sexual innuendos, veiled sexual comments, or any other unwanted sexual actions that are upsetting and illegal. In many cases, the parishioners, sometimes innocent children, are asked to perform certain sexual acts, to discuss private matters including talking about their genitals, or asked to engage in discussing or participating in various sexual activities. These are serious crimes and must be addressed with a sexual harassment attorney in California in a civil lawsuit against the individual and church that allowed the actions to take place.

How to Take Legal Action

Some cases of clergy sexual harassment in California are when a parishioner or child is sought out, and efforts are made to speak to them privately to discuss sexual matters. This activity is often the precursor to even more dangerous sex crimes, including abuse. The Catholic Church has been under scrutiny for many serious criminal activities with regard to clergy members committing acts of sexual abuse over many years. The Pew Research center found that Americans see Catholic clergy sexual abuse as an ongoing problem and that 90% of adults have at least heard about the abuse and victims coming forward.

It’s critical to be extremely vigilant about any harassment. If you or someone you know has experienced clergy sexual abuse, seek help from a child sexual abuse lawyer in California immediately. Manly, Stewart & Finaldi will help you prepare and gather all that is needed to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Who Can Commit an Act of Abuse?

Unfortunately, these atrocities are committed by different types religious leaders, including:

  • Rabbis
  • Ministers
  • Pastors
  • Church staff
  • Priests
  • Other religious workers

In the U.S., there’s been thousands of clergy members accused of sexual abuse. While the exact number can be hard to attain, there’s more than 5,300 priests and other clergy accused of sexual abusing children according to Consumer Safety. In California alone there were 607 accused.  This number will change as more survivors come forward to report what happened to them.

Ensuring Accountability for Clergy Sexual Abuse

The clergy of all faiths are entrusted with the responsibility to report any suspected case of child sexual abuse. There is a scarcity of statistics about children who have been abused by clergy as many of these children simply don’t talk about it.

A sexual predator doesn’t stop at just one child. One predator can abuse many children over a lifetime. As horrible as the suffering of one abused child is, when the religious institution finds out about a case of abuse and takes no action, or covers it up which allows the predator to commit more abuse, this compounds the situation and those who hid the situation also become liable. Those who commit the abuse as well as those who knew of it and allowed it to continue must be held accountable. These complex cases require the skill of our knowledgeable clergy abuse attorneys to ensure success.

How Does the Independent Compensation Program Work?

The Independent Compensation Program.was developed by the Catholic dioceses in California to reimburse victims of clergy abuse for the ongoing life changing trauma they were faced with. We recommend sexual abuse victims not to register. Signing up will no longer allow you to file any lawsuit against the Diocese. To learn more about better compensation options and filing a claim against the Diocese of CA, speak with our experienced clergy sexual abuse attorneys in California.

Contact Our California Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers Today

Criminal justice actions afford justice to the community as a whole but often do little for the individual who directly suffered the injury. Civil litigation gives the survivor a voice and the opportunity to be compensated for those injuries. While mere monetary compensation can never fully restore what was taken, it provides the abuse survivor with time to heal and create a new future. Our law firm has represented abuse victims from Los Angeles and Orange County. To talk with a caring sexual abuse lawyer, call Manly, Stewart & Finaldi for a free confidential consultation.