Encyclopedia > Cases of child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church
There have been an estimated 1,400 sexual abuse lawsuits launched against Roman Catholic priests in the United States since 1985. In 1997 a jury awarded $120 million to victims in a sex abuse case against the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, Texas.
Fr. Rudolph Kos - Dallas, Texas, United States. On July 10, 1998 the Diocese of Dallas agreed to pay $23.4 million to nine former altar boys who claimed they were sexually abused by Kos. The diocese declared bankruptcy and closed many of its agencies and schools. Current settlements in the Boston, Massachusetts suits could reach up to $100 million. In some cases insurance companies have balked at meeting the cost of large settlements, claiming the actions were deliberate and not covered by insurance.
Fr. Louis Miller - Louisville, Kentucky, United States. On March 31, 2003, Rev. Miller pled guilty to 44 counts of "indecent or immoral acts" and six charges of first degree sexual abuse, relating to incidents involving at least 21 children between 1957 and 1982. Miller also pled guilty to 14 further charges in Oldham County, Kentucky. Miller was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on the Louisville convictions. The Archdiocese of Louisville made a $25.7 million dollar settlement involving 243 victims of sexual abuse, which was approved by a Louisville court on August 1, 2003.
Fr Paul McGennis - Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Abused Marie Collins when as a 13 year old she was in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in 1961. Collins later told McGennis admitted abusing children. However the Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin refused "on legal advice" to supply his file on McGennis to the Irish police. He was nevertheless convicted and gaoled. Collins demanded and finally got an apology from Cardinal Connell.
On July 10, 1998 the RomanCatholic Diocese of Dallas agreed to pay $23.4 million to nine former altar boys who claimed they were sexually abused by Kos.
In 2003, he was canonically removed as the pastor of Maria Lanakila CatholicChurch in Lahaina by Msgr.
Deacon Gonsalves was the former administrator of Saint Ann RomanCatholicChurch in Waihee on the island of Maui.
In the late 20th century, and early 21st, the RomanCatholicChurch was confronted with a series of allegations of sexualabuse of children by Catholic priests (who are all male) and by members of the various religious orders (both male and female).
The RomanCatholicChurch considers the sexualabuse of children to be mortally sinful: covering up abuse is hiding both a breach of secular law and what in the eyes of the Church is mortal sin.
Plaintiffs in the cases against the archdiocese have argued that the Catholicchurch is a single entity, and that the Vatican should be liable for any damages awarded in judgement of pending sexualabusecases.
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