Lawsuits Archives

Ex-seminarian’s suit against archdiocese, seminary in Rome called baseless

Feb 13, 2021

A former seminarian’s lawsuit filed against the New York Archdiocese, New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Pontifical North American College officials and several “John Does” over him not being allowed to return to the NAC is baseless and without merit, according to spokesmen for the archdiocese and the U.S. seminary in Rome.

By Catholic News Service

Saga of Happy the Elephant proof nothing is alien to Catholic concern

Feb 5, 2021

In a 1979 address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope (now Saint) John Paul II declared, “Nothing human is alien to the Christian.” What Happy’s case demonstrates anew is that in all honesty, John Paul could have stricken the word “human” from that sentence.

By John L. Allen Jr.

New York state sues Buffalo diocese over priest misconduct

Nov 24, 2020

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday sued the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and two former church leaders, alleging they covered up allegations of sexual misconduct and misused charitable assets by supporting predatory priests who were allowed to retire or go on leave.

By Carolyn Thompson

Alleging sex abuse, 4 sue Vatican over handling of McCarrick

Nov 20, 2020

Four accusers of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick have filed a lawsuit against the Vatican, arguing it should be held liable for allowing the now-disgraced cleric to serve in multiple positions in New York and New Jersey when it knew of numerous allegations of sexual abuse against him.

By David Porter

Catholic college settles suit over student’s death in eating contest

Nov 13, 2020

A Connecticut college has settled a lawsuit over the death of a student who choked on pancakes during an eating contest on campus in 2017.

By Associated Press

Pennsylvania justices review priest abuse lawsuit’s ruling on time limits

Oct 21, 2020

Pennsylvania’s highest court on Tuesday grappled with whether a woman’s lawsuit on claims of sexual abuse by a priest decades ago should be allowed to proceed — a lower-court ruling that has launched many other lawsuits since it was issued a year ago.

By Mark Scolforo

Proposed class-action suit claims negligence by Vancouver Archdiocese

Sep 3, 2020

A proposed class-action lawsuit filed against the Archdiocese of Vancouver claims the archdiocese was “systematically negligent” in protecting parishioners from abuse by clergy.

By Agnieszka Ruck

University of Notre Dame sued after student’s fall causes severe injury

Jul 22, 2020

The parents of a University of Notre Dame freshman severely injured in a 2019 fall in a campus dormitory during a party filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the school, which they claim condoned a “quasi-fraternity atmosphere” at an on-campus residence hall.

By Associated Press