According to the John Jay Study of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States (2003), only 2% of the nearly 4,400 priests accused of sexually abusing well over 11,000 minors during the past 50 years were criminally convicted.
Grand jury reports, prosecutors, and plaintiffs’ attorneys across the nation have consistently cited the obstacles created by statutes of limitations to explain why so few of these predatory priests have ever been held accountable for their crimes.
SPRINGFIELD – In the past decade or so, about 50 people have come forward to say they were sexually abused as minors by [former priest Richard] Lavigne. Many of them explored possible criminal complaints against him, but abandoned them because of statute of limitation laws in Massachusetts. (MassLive.com, 10/27/04)
VIRGINIA BEACH – A $5.3 million lawsuit accusing the Richmond diocese, a Catholic priest and a now-retired bishop of liability in child sexual abuse decades ago was dismissed Friday by Circuit Judge Edward W. Hanson Jr., who ruled that the statute of limitations had expired (PilotOnline, 10/26/04).
PHILADELPHIA – About a half-dozen prosecutors [in other states] have issued scathing reports on how church higher-ups protected abusive priests. At the same time, they said statutes of limitations barred prosecutions (Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/8/04).
SPRINGFIELD – A district attorney said Monday that he would not prosecute Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Dupre on child rape charges — despite a newly unsealed indictment in the case — because the statute of limitations has expired (Associated Press, 9/27/04).
DAVENPORT – [Attorney Patrick] Noaker said four civil lawsuits are pending against Wiebler for child sexual abuse in Davenport between 1969 and 1973. Wiebler has never been charged with any crime, said Noaker, because the statute of limitations for criminal charges had run out for those who accused Wiebler of abuse. "We're scared he might be hurting kids down there," Noaker said (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9/15/04).
SAN FRANCISCO – A San Francisco priest facing 25 molestation charges looks set to walk free today and six other men, including three more priests, should follow after the Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a California law that freed up the statute of limitations for prosecuting pedophiles (San Francisco Examiner, 6/27/03).
MIAMI – Miami church leaders ''could be considered criminally culpable for failing to report'' the allegations of child abuse, Broward prosecutor Dennis Siegel wrote in his memo. ``However, because the statute of limitations has expired on this matter, no action can be taken by this office.'' (10/23/03)
BOSTON - On May 7, 1992, Frank Fitzpatrick and seven other survivors appeared on WBZ-TV in Boston, describing their victimization by [Rev. James] Porter. The broadcast brought more victims forward, but authorities were still reluctant to prosecute, citing lapsed statutes of limitations (crimelibrary.com).