Were you sexually abused in Maryland by a priest in the Archdiocese of Washington? We can help.
If you have been sexually abused by a priest – or anyone else working in Maryland for the Archdiocese of Washington – you may have a limited time to seek justice due to the expected passage of a new law suspending the statute of limitations in child sexual abuse cases in Maryland temporarily. Horowitz Law is now evaluating legal claims for anyone sexually abused by a priest, brother, nun, teacher, coach, or other lay employees working on the State of Maryland for the Archdiocese of Washington. The Archdiocese of Washington operates throughout southern Maryland. Contact us at 844-598-2376 or email Adam Horowitz to learn more.
Maryland lawmakers have enacted a new law that opens the courthouse doors to sex abuse survivors seeking justice and accountability for the lifetime of hurt and shame caused by their abuse.
Thanks to the diligence of Maryland’s lawmakers, the courthouse doors will open to nearly everyone sexually abused in Maryland as a child regardless of when their abuse occurred, but only for a short time. For many people born before 1981, their statute of limitations previously expired on their 21st birthday.
The new statute of limitations “window” will allow anyone sexually abused as a child in Maryland to file lawsuits against their perpetrators and the institutions that protected and enabled the abusers, even if the statute of limitations had previously run out. Once the window has expired, many clergy sexual abuse claims will be forever barred. Therefore, it is very important that you contact us today to determine your legal options against the Archdiocese of Washington and anyone else who has hurt you.
Our lawyers are among the most experienced in the country in cases of clergy sexual abuse – and experience matters when church leaders have some of the toughest lawyers in America working to keep their secrets.
Sexual abuse by any clergy member is an egregious breach of trust. Adam Horowitz is among the most experienced attorneys in the country in representing persons sexually abused by priests from the Catholic church and clergy of many other faiths. Since 2000, the lawyers of Horowitz Law have handled hundreds of clergy sexual abuse cases involving various religious institutions, including the Archdiocese of Washington. These cases have arisen in religious schools, churches/parishes, seminaries, religious counseling, retreats, schools, and other activities sponsored by religious institutions.
In these cases, the lawyers of Horowitz Law have often prevailed on complex issues involving statutes of limitations, the First Amendment, and the discovery of “confidential” records that the Catholic Church has tried to conceal for nearly a century in some cases. In fighting these battles, our attorneys have become very familiar with the church’s unique hierarchy, record-keeping policies, terminology, and defense tactics and are often called upon by colleagues to consult on these matters.
Most importantly, we have become familiar with the unique challenges and needs of survivors of clergy sexual abuse – and their families – during the legal process. Your safety and well-being are always our first priority.
Through Our Own Investigation, We Have Identified 53 Catholic Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Washington, and that Number is Expected to Grow.
In October 2018, Archbishop Donald Cardinal Wuerl released the names of 28 priests that it said had been accused of sexually abusing minors in the Archdiocese of Washington, including three religious order priests. The Archdiocese defined the term “credibly accused” itself, and had total control over the investigation into the credibility of the underlying allegations, just as it had exclusive control over the criteria determining which priests were identified on its list.
That may well explain why the Archdiocese of Washington’s list is woefully deficient. Through our investigative efforts, we have identified 53 Catholic clergy assigned in the Archdiocese of Washington who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing minors. We believe it to be the most comprehensive list of accused priests publicly available today. In many cases, the priests listed below were the subject of multiple allegations, or were moved to a new parish after allegations arose.
The accused clergy we have identified are:
- Fr. Michael L. Barber (Jesuit)
- Fr. John F.X. Bellwoar (Jesuit)
- Fr. Francis Benham
- Fr. Salvatore Bucca
- Fr. Francis C. Bourbon (Jesuit)
- Fr. H. Cornell Bradley (Jesuit)
- Fr. John Fabian Butler (Dominican)
- Fr. Raymond Callahan
- Fr. Martin J. Casey (Jesuit)
- Fr. C. Thomas Chleboski, Jr.
- Fr. Aaron Joseph Cote (Dominican)
- Fr. Joseph Coyne
- Fr. Robert Cullen (Jesuit)
- Fr. Philip DeRea (Missionaries of the Sacred Heart)
- Fr. Russell L. Dillard
- Fr. R. Joseph Dooley
- Fr. John W. Eccleston
- Fr. James Aubrey Finan
- Fr. Roger P. Gallagher
- Fr. Stephen M. Garrity (Jesuit)
- Fr. Edward Hartel
- Fr. William E. Krouse
- Fr. James V. Lannon
- Fr. Paul E. Lavin
- Fr. Arthur J. Long (Jesuit)
- Aux. Bishop Thomas W. Lyons
- Fr. Peter M. McCutcheon
- Archbishop Theodore Cardinal McCarrick
- Br. Matthew Miles (Sacred Heart)
- Fr. J. Glenn Murray (Jesuit)
- Fr. Arthur J. O’Brien
- Fr. Garrett Orr (Jesuit)
- Fr. Robert Joseph Petrella
- Fr. James J. Powderly
- Fr. Edward B. Pritchard
- Fr. Thomas Pyne (Jesuit)
- Fr. Walter D. Salisbury (Josephite)
- Fr. Thomas S. Schaefer
- Fr. Michael Schapfel
- Fr. James A. Scott
- Fr. Joseph Skelton, Jr.
- Fr. Timothy Slevin
- Fr. Alphonsus Smith
- Fr. Dan P. Stallings
- Fr. George A. Stallings, Jr.
- Fr. William McSherry Stock
- Fr. Ronald J. Tully (Augustinian)
- Fr. Paul T. Twiddy
- Fr. Urbano Vazquez Ortega (Capuchin Franciscan)
- Fr. William Walsh (Jesuit)
- Fr. William Wehrle (Jesuit)
- Fr. William Wert (Carmelite)
- Fr. Miguel Umana Zelaya
Horowitz Law represents victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Washington in Washington, D.C. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in the Archdiocese of Washington, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Washington may now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the District of Columbia and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us toll-free at 954-641-2100 or send an email to discuss your options today.