Berman & Simmons Represented Six More Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Against Maine’s Roman Catholic Church

With the filing of six new lawsuits, Berman & Simmons has now 30 civil cases pending against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland on behalf of survivors of childhood sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Maine.

The assaults that form the basis for the complaints occurred in a variety of venues, including at churches and diocesan schools, over decades, stemming from 1954 to 1988. Two of the survivors attended an emotional news conference where they shared the lifelong effects of the abuse and their desire for the Church to be held accountable.

Diocese of Portland Alleged Perpetrator Map
Map shows assignments of alleged perpetrators in 30 cases filed by Berman & Simmons as of August 2023

The Diocese knew about sexual abuse by priests and nuns

Attorney Tim Kenlan with two clients attended a press conference to announce the filing of six more lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.
Attorney Tim Kenlan with two clients attended a press conference to announce the filing of six more lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

Each case outlines the abuse of power by priests and nuns against minors across Maine. They demonstrate that the Maine diocese knew about rampant sexual abuse by its priests and other clergy for decades, chose to not stop it, and failed to warn parishioner families of the allegations. The Portland Diocese sent some of the priests named in these latest suits to “rehabilitation programs,” places where abusive priests were sent from across the American Conference of Bishops jurisdiction for decades.

With no statute of limitations, survivors can come forward when they are ready

Some of the six survivors were unable to come forward to pursue legal action until the statute of limitations was lifted in 2021; others are still within the former time limit. At the news conference, attorney Timothy Kenlan cited research that shows the average age for survivors to come forward is 52. These six survivors are aged 52 and older and some said they came forward when they learned of the change in the law.

Diocese of Portland Alleged Perpetrator Photos
Photos of Portland, ME Diocese Alleged Sexual Abuse Perpetrators

Survivor stories continue to garner media attention and prompt new inquiries