Good News for Victims of Church Abuse in New Jersey

Priest & Clergy Sexual Abuse is Not your Fault

Despite having done nothing to invite sexual abuse and being powerless to fight it, victims often feel ashamed and responsible for the trauma they’ve experienced. Because most sexual abuse victims do not share their experience with others, victims fail to realize how very often priest and clergy sexual abuse occurs. Many victims feel that they are alone, or one of a few who have been abused by these cruel predators. This adds fuel to the mistaken belief that they must have done something to cause or invite the abuse—that they are somehow at fault.

This could not be further from the truth. The truth is:

• You did nothing to cause or invite your sexual abuse.
• You are not in any way at fault for your abuse.
• You are not alone. Even people who have not experienced sexual abuse are recognizing its extent and the devastation it wreaks on its victims

The Exceptional Cruelty and Danger of Priest & Clergy Sexual Abuse

Priests, clergy, and other church officials are among the people children and adults trust the most. The extent and significance of this trust—which may permeate the education and daily lives of both adult and child church members—makes victims far more vulnerable to being abused in the first place. It also significantly increases the emotional damage suffered by victims whose sacred trust in admired and revered individuals has been so completely shattered.

Child and even adult victims who feel shame and responsibility for their own abuse are unaware of the insidious nature of a priest or clergy member’s abuse. These predators systematically influence and groom their victims, gaining their complete trust while slowing easing them into something they do not understand. By the time the abuse is in full swing, victims are both confused about what is happening and powerless to escape.

It bears repeating: None of this is your fault.

Extent of Sexual Abuse across the Country

Major sexual abuse scandals involving priests, clergy, and others associated with churches and religious organizations have been well-publicized throughout the United States. In August 2014, a grand jury report revealed ongoing sexual abuse by priests. In one state alone, more than 300 priests were found to have abused more than 1,000 children over a 70-year period. The horror of this news was magnified by the additional discovery that priests, bishops, cardinals, and other church officials had engaged in a deliberate scheme to cover up the abuse. Knowing full well that priests were sexually abusing children and other church members, the church chose to protect the church’s reputation rather than to protect its parishioners.

In New Jersey, 188 priests and deacons who had abused children from as far back as the 1940s were identified by the State’s dioceses in February 2019. These scandals got the attention of the American public as well as its legislators.

New Sexual Abuse Law in New Jersey

On May 19, 2019, the State of New Jersey passed a new sexual abuse law that dramatically increases sexual abuse survivors’ chances of bringing their abusers to justice.  The law significantly extends the statute of limitations (the time during which someone can sue) in civil sexual-abuse cases by creating a two year window for survivors’ claims to be filed that would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations.

The law will become effective on December 1, 2019.  Some of the more important sections of the law provide:

• A two-year window, beginning December 1, 2019, for children and adult survivors of sexual abuse to file a civil case which allege past sexual abuse;
• Allows adult survivors of child sex abuse to bring a civil case against their abusers until the survivor reaches the age of 55, or within seven years from the date they become aware of the harm of their injuries (whichever is later).
• Survivors also will be able to sue institutions and individuals that were aware of and permitted the abuse to occur or otherwise protected these abusers

The result of the new law is that many more sexual predators will be brought to justice and reduce the chances of coverup by institutions more interested in their own reputations than the safety of the children in their care.