Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston:
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is just one of 15 Roman Catholic Dioceses in Texas that released names. In total, the names of 286 priests have been disclosed.
Merson Law has provided a copy of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston List.
Churches across the country have begun to create programs to financially compensate victims. Most of these programs follow a similar structure, like that of the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
The church allocates a set amount to the program fund, and opens up a window of time for victims to sign up. At the end of the program, the money is divided amongst those who have signed on. Programs like this are NOT a lawsuit, and often they require you to waive your right to sue.
With the release of these names, The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is on track to begin a program of its own, especially if pressure from the public continues.
What is the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston?
Taken from www.archgh.org:
“Today, more than 1.7 million Catholics live within the boundaries of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, making it the diocese with the largest Catholic population in the state of Texas and the fifth largest in the United States.
The Archdiocese is led by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston.”
Can I receive compensation?
If you were sexually assaulted in any way as a child by any member of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, whether or not they were listed in the document, you can receive monetary compensation.
In many cases, victim compensation programs have their own vetting process to determine who they will accept. People often wonder if they have enough evidence, or if the church will believe them. Only you know the truth, and if you were the victim of sexual assault, we can help you to take care of the paperwork.
When will the program begin?
Time is of the essence for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. They must act fast before massive lawsuits against them break out.
After years of letting this plague of sexual abuse run unchecked, the Catholic Church is finally cracking down on its own. Currently, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has not announced a definitive compensation program.
As pressure from the public continues, the Catholic Church is being forced into finally addressing the scandal. It is in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s best interest to create a compensation program.
Additionally, there’s power in numbers. As more victims speak out, the church is left with fewer and fewer options.
Merson Law will continually update you on any news regarding Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s compensation program.
Why Should I get a Lawyer?
Victims programs often advertise that you do not need a lawyer to sign up, and that one will be provided for you when you do. This is true, but misleading. The lawyer provided to you by the church will not be YOUR lawyer. He or she works for the interest of the church, not for you, and is mostly retained for the church’s own legal protections.
Like in most legal matters, you’ll receive more compensation if you have a lawyer. Additionally, as mentioned before, victims’ programs often require you to sign away your right to sue, among other things. We do not want you to get “tricked” by the church’s lawyers. Having your own lawyer present assures you that you completely understand the process and that you do not inadvertently sign off on things you didn’t mean to.
As an experienced sexual assault lawyer, Jordan Merson understands that not everyone can afford costly lawyer fees. Despite this, it is incredibly important for victims to have proper representation in these matters. Merson takes no out of pocket fee from the client for this reason.
