The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie announced that it will start accepting claims in February 2019 for compensation by survivors of sexual abuse by clergy as part of its “Survivors’ Reparation Fund.” It will offer compensation to survivors who are barred from suing because of time limits a “straight-forward, non-contentious” way for what it says was the “harm that sexual predators within the Diocese of Erie inflicted.”
Although claims will first be submitted in February 2019, now is the time for victims to gather evidence to support their claims. Our law firm works with clients to gather and assemble these documents to submit as part of their claims. This may include but is not limited to photographs, sacrament records, parish records, school records, medical/counseling records. It is not necessary to have an eyewitness or even to have previously disclosed the abuse in order to submit a claim for compensation
Unlike other compensation programs set up by Dioceses in Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the United States, the compensation program is for not only victims of clergy abuse but also victims of lay employees and volunteers within the diocese, church officials said. Additionally, both minors and vulnerable adults will be eligible for compensation.
According to the Diocese, the money for Phase I of the Survivors’ Reparation Fund will be provided through a new line of credit obtained by the Diocese of Erie and secured by investments. No money donated by the faithful to any parish, school or charitable cause within the diocese will be used in the fund, officials said.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing sexual abuse victims of Catholic priests and other clergy of the Diocese of Erie. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abuse by a priest in Pennsylvania, contact our office. Although many years have passed, people who have been sexually abused by priests of the Diocese of Erie can submit a claim for compensation. Contact attorney Adam Horowitz at 954-641-2100 or [email protected] to find out how to submit your claim today.