Our mission is to award just compensation to sexual abuse survivors through a non-litigious process that promotes healing and the restoration of trust within the Catholic community.
Solidarity seeks to create a tribunal of lay persons of integrity and faith. The tribunal will consider and award appropriate compensation to those harmed by sexual abuse--without litigation expenses, punitive action or further alienation from our faith.
"Dioceses and orders should endeavor to resolve civil claims and government investigations on reasonable terms and in a manner that minimizes the potential for intrusion of civil authorities into the governance of Church matters." (National Review Board, Causes and Context, Chapter V, Recommendations, E2)
A moral and pragmatic solution to the problem of just compensation for victims harmed by members and employees of Catholic organizations, orders and institutions has not been found by our leadership. Past practices by leadership in our church have valued legalism over accountability, cost enormous sums of money, shredded trust within our community and damaged the causes of healing and justice.
There is a better way.
Be sure to check out our new News button for a conversation between the founder of Solidarity, Susan Pavlak, and Amy Berg, the director of the film Deliver us From Evil.
$703,636: Average amount spent per accused clergy by the Chicago diocese. Read more in our breakdown and analysis of the top ten dioceses spending the largest amount of money on the sexual abuse crisis.
The John Jay Report, the most comprehensive look at the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church so far, was released on February 27th, 2004. Read the complete report here.
According to the Jay Report:
10,667: Number of sexual abuse allegations reported from 1950-2002.
78: Percent of these incidents that involved children between the ages of 11 and 17.
4,392: Number of Catholic clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors from 1950-2002.
$572,507,094: Financial costs reported by dioceses and orders, excluding the 14 percent that chose not to report dollar amounts.
P.O. Box 7394, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55107 (651) 387-0106
