THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT. THIS HEARING NOT UNPRECEDENTED, BUT WAS UNUSUAL FOR A BANKRUPTCY CASE. THE JUDGE BEGAN BY LAYING OUT SOME GROUND RULES. SHE SAID ONLY SURVIVORS WILL BE SPEAKING DURING THIS HEARING TODAY, SHE SAID IT’S NOT ON THE RECORD. IT’S NOT EVIDENTIARY. AND SHE WOULD NOT BE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS. FROM THE COURT’S PERSPECTIVE, THE JUDGE SAID TODAY WAS A LISTENING SESSION AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND MY NAME IS TERESA LANCASTER, THE SURVIVOR, ACTIVIST AND ADVOCATE AT ANNAPOLIS ATTORNEY TERESA LANCASTER WAS ONE OF SIX ADULT SURVIVORS OF CHILD CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE TO TESTIFY IN FEDERAL COURT MONDAY AMID THE BANKRUPTCY CASE OF THE BALTIMORE CATHOLIC CHURCH. I WANT TO TELL SURVIVOR. OUT THERE, YOU COME FORWARD, WE’LL STAND WITH YOU. THERE’S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS, AND DON’T HIDE IN A CLOSET ANYMORE. MEN AND WOMEN, RANGING IN AGE FROM ABOUT 50 TO ABOUT 70. THE SURVIVORS RECOUNTED BEING TARGETED BY PREDATOR PRIESTS BEING REPEATEDLY ABUSED AND RAPED, SOME VIOLENTLY, AND THEN BEING SCARED AND SHAMED INTO SILENCE. I THINK IT’S PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS. IT’S BEEN GOING ON FOR FOR A LONG TIME. THE CHURCH FILED FOR CHAPTER 11 LAST SEPTEMBER, ANTICIPATING A FLOOD OF LAWSUITS WHEN MARYLAND’S CHILD VICTIMS ACT BECAME LAW. ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM LORI ATTENDED MONDAY’S HEARING, LISTENING AND NODDING HIS HEAD THROUGHOUT. I SAW YOU GIVE ONE SURVIVOR A HUG. I SAW YOU ATTEMPT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE OTHER FIVE WHO SPOKE. I CAME AS AS A PRIEST AND PASTOR AND SOMEONE WHO HOPES THAT BY DOING THIS, I CAN CONTRIBUTE IN SOME SMALL WAY TO THE HEALING, UH, OF THE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND WHAT THEY’VE BEEN THROUGH. BUT SOME HERE TODAY SAID THEY DON’T BUY IT, GIVEN THE CHURCH’S OTHER COURT ACTIONS. BUT REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF THAT HEARING, THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION THAT THE CHILD VICTIMS ACT HAS ALREADY HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS IN MARYLAND. TODAY’S HEARING WAS THE FIRST OF TWO OF ITS KIND THAT THE JUDGE CARVED OUT AND PUT ON THE COURT CALENDAR, REPORTING LIVE OUTSIDE U.S. DISTRICT COUR
Sexual abuse survivors testify in Baltimore Archdiocese bankruptcy case
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Updated: 6:14 PM EDT Apr 8, 2024
Survivors of child sexual abuse are getting their chance to speak out.A special conference took place Monday in federal bankruptcy court, designed to give adult survivors of childhood clergy sexual abuse a chance to testify. It comes amid the Chapter 11 proceedings for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which declared bankruptcy in September in anticipation of a flood of sexual abuse lawsuits when Maryland's Child Victims Act became law.The judge was clear from the outset: only survivors would give statements, the conference was not on the record and not evidentiary in nature. She said, from the court's perspective, Monday was a listening session and an opportunity to be heard in order to increase engagement and understanding of the case."I want to tell survivors out there: 'Come forward. We'll stand with you. There's strength in numbers, and don't hide in the closet anymore,'" survivor Teresa Lancaster said.Lancaster was one of six adult survivors of child clergy sexual abuse who testified Monday. The others, men and women, range in age from about 50-70 years old.The survivors recounted being targeted by priests, repeatedly abused and raped, some violently, and then scared and shamed into silence."Hiding doesn't help you or anybody else. We got the story out, and the public knows what happened behind those closed doors," Lancaster said.Archbishop William Lori attended the hearing, listening and nodding his head throughout."I came as a priest and pastor and someone who hopes that, by doing this, I can contribute in some small way to the healing of these individuals and what they've been through," Lori said.Some who attended the hearing said they don't buy it, given the church's other court actions."Regardless of the outcome of that hearing, there can be no question that the Child Victims Act has already had a profound impact on the lives of child sexual abuse survivors in Maryland," a member of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, Frank Schindler, said.Aside from lawyers entering their appearance on the record, no one other than the survivors spoke in court, including the judge, who limited her own comments to "thank you."
BALTIMORE — Survivors of child sexual abuse are getting their chance to speak out.
A special conference took place Monday in federal bankruptcy court, designed to give adult survivors of childhood clergy sexual abuse a chance to testify. It comes amid the Chapter 11 proceedings for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which declared bankruptcy in September in anticipation of a flood of sexual abuse lawsuits when Maryland's Child Victims Act became law.
The judge was clear from the outset: only survivors would give statements, the conference was not on the record and not evidentiary in nature. She said, from the court's perspective, Monday was a listening session and an opportunity to be heard in order to increase engagement and understanding of the case.
"I want to tell survivors out there: 'Come forward. We'll stand with you. There's strength in numbers, and don't hide in the closet anymore,'" survivor Teresa Lancaster said.
Lancaster was one of six adult survivors of child clergy sexual abuse who testified Monday. The others, men and women, range in age from about 50-70 years old.
The survivors recounted being targeted by priests, repeatedly abused and raped, some violently, and then scared and shamed into silence.
"Hiding doesn't help you or anybody else. We got the story out, and the public knows what happened behind those closed doors," Lancaster said.
Archbishop William Lori attended the hearing, listening and nodding his head throughout.
"I came as a priest and pastor and someone who hopes that, by doing this, I can contribute in some small way to the healing of these individuals and what they've been through," Lori said.
Some who attended the hearing said they don't buy it, given the church's other court actions.
"Regardless of the outcome of that hearing, there can be no question that the Child Victims Act has already had a profound impact on the lives of child sexual abuse survivors in Maryland," a member of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, Frank Schindler, said.
Aside from lawyers entering their appearance on the record, no one other than the survivors spoke in court, including the judge, who limited her own comments to "thank you."
