Our Lawyer Helps Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse in New Jersey
If a pastor, church elder, rabbi, priest, or another clergy member in New Jersey has sexually abused you, coming forward may be difficult for a variety of emotional reasons. It is possible that your memories date back to when you were a child, and are clouded by the trauma you have experienced. You might be afraid that no one will believe your story, especially if your community or church have encouraged you to remain silent. You, however, are not alone.
Hundreds of victims of sexual abuse by priests are coming forward in New Jersey, New York, and states across the nation. Lawyers who handle clergy sexual abuse cases are helping victims come forward and file claims that can hold abusive priests and church officials accountable for the harm they have caused to children and adults. Individuals who were abused when they were children by the priests they trusted are finding that confronting their abusers can help with the healing process.
If you were sexually abused by a priest or other clergy member as a child in New Jersey, contact Alonso Krangle, LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your case. You do not have to face sexual abuse alone.
Is Sexual Abuse of Children in New Jersey Confined to the Catholic Church?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. Although the news has mostly been focused on the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests, and the institutional cover-up by the church, clergy sexual abuse is non-denominational. It spans every religion and community. IF recent news stories have taught us anything, it is that sexual abusers can exist in any church, synagogue, or mosque. Regardless of their reputations, or seemingly respectable communities, religious institutions we now know, use the faith of their congregations to groom, abuse and silence victims. Some, even use it to protect the clergy that abuse.
We have heard reports of child sexual abuse by the clergy in nearly all religious sects including:
- Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Seventh-day Adventists
- Catholic Church
- Judaism
- Islam
- Protestant Church
- Mormon Church
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
Abusers in these religions can include some of the following authoritative figures:
- Witnesses
- Church Elders
- members of the Watchtower Society
- Pastors
- Reverends
- Priests
- Deacons
- Bishops
- nuns
- Monks
- Gurus
- Yogis
- Youth Counselors
- Ministers
- Imams
- Rabbis
- Cantors
Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse in New Jersey May be Entitled to Financial Compensation
Individuals abused or assaulted by priests, clergy, or employees of religious organizations may pursue legal action to obtain justice against their abusers. In New Jersey and other states, including New York, some laws strongly support victims’ rights. New Jersey recently extended the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse, which means victims have more time to confront their abusers. In situations of the sexual abuse of children, victims will often repress the trauma for years – even decades – until something triggers the memories. While the recovery of repressed memories comes as a terrible shock, the good news is that adult victims of child abuse may still have legal recourse to bring suit against their abusers and institutions. If they choose to file a lawsuit, they may seek financial compensation for pain and suffering, medical treatment, and counseling.
What Does the New Jersey Statute of Limitations Say About Filing a Lawsuit for Child Sexual Abuse?
New Jersey law allowed victims of child sexual abuse until the age of 20 to file a lawsuit. Recently, due to the factors stated above, the governor signed into law a new statute of limitations. Children who are victims of sexual abuse in New Jersey have until age 55, or within seven years of realizing the abuse caused them harm, to file a lawsuit and try to collect compensation. The law also provides a two-year window for those previously time-barred to pursue legal remedies.
The changes to the New Jersey statute of limitations along with similar laws in other states are the direct result of a large number of victims of sexual abuse that have reported allegations against the Catholic church, priests, and other religious figures. It is unfortunate that it has taken such tragedy to result in the changes, but the new laws pave the way for more victims to come forward and seek accountability and closure.
Contact Us if You Have Been Sexually Harassed by a Priest in New Jersey
If you have been abused in New Jersey by a priest, you may feel hopeless. You may say to yourself, “I was abused so long ago, what can I do now?” or “Why should I bother doing anything?
Many victims feel that a civil lawsuit gives them the chance to confront their abuser and the people who protected him. You have suffered for years. The money will not change what happened to you, but it can ease some of the costs associated with counseling, medical care, and the pain and suffering you have endured. At the very least, by filing a claim against the priest who sexually abused you and the institution that allowed it to happen, you can ensure that other children do not suffer as you have.
Are you are interested in seeking justice, and maybe just a little bit of closure? Are you ready to start putting the ordeal of sexual abuse behind you? If so, contact our New Jersey sexual abuse lawyer Alonso Krangle, LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your sexual abuse case. Call us now at [phone_num] to get started on your legal claim for clergy sexual abuse.