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A Note from the Official Committee

The Committee appointed in the Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcy case to advocate on behalf of survivors has noted the election of a new leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV. This has raised concerns among some regarding his commitment to the prevention and investigation of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. This article summarizes those concerns. The Committee wishes to acknowledge those concerns and share that it is fully committed to its work in this case to both achieve a financial settlement for survivors and the adoption of policies that will end sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

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****Important Update on Maryland Child Victims Act Claims****

You must take immediate action to protect your rights under Maryland’s Child Victims Act. If you do not file a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Baltimore and its affiliated entities (schools, parishes, etc.) by May 31, 2025, your potential recovery may be limited to $700,000 instead of $1.5 million. The bankruptcy court has granted permission for survivors to file and serve lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Baltimore and its affiliated entities (schools, parishes, etc.) but you must do so before May 31, 2025.

What This Means For You:

  1. To preserve your right to recover up to $1.5 million on your claim, you must file a lawsuit if you have a claim relate to sexual abuse against the Archdiocese of Baltimore and/or one of its affiliated entities (schools, parishes, etc.).
  2. You must file a lawsuit even if you filed a claim in the bankruptcy case.
  3. These lawsuits must be filed on or before May 31, 2025.
  4. The bankruptcy court has given Survivors permission to file and serve lawsuits against the Archdiocese and its Catholic affiliates (a list of which can be found HERE) for child sexual abuse claims.
  5. After filing and service of your lawsuit, your case will be temporarily paused pending the resolution of the bankruptcy proceedings.

Contact your legal representative immediately to ensure your rights are protected and your claim is filed before the deadline. For questions, please contact the Committee’s counsel at BaltimoreSurvivorTeam@Stinson.com  The Committee and its counsel cannot act as your lawyers or give you legal advice. If you need help filing a lawsuit, you should contact a Maryland attorney or visit the Baltimore County lawyer referral program to be referred to an attorney.

Maryland Child Victims Act Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  What is the Child Victims Act (CVA) and what has recently changed?
A:  In October 2023,Maryland’s CVA eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. This means that Survivors were permitted to file civil lawsuits at any time against their perpetrators, including the Archdiocese and its affiliates (schools, parishes, etc.).  Recently, in April 2025, the CVA was amended to reduce the maximum amount a Survivor could be awarded from  $1.5 million to $700,000, for all lawsuits filed after May 31, 2025.

Q: How is my claim in the Archdiocese bankruptcy affected by the CVA change?
A:   When the Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy, an automatic stay – or a “pause” –  went into effect which prevented Survivors from filing lawsuits against the Archdiocese and its affiliates.  Given the recent CVA change, this “pause” affected Survivor bankruptcy claims by threatening their ability to preserve rights under the maximum $1.5 million recovery award.

Q: How has the Bankruptcy Court reacted?
A:  Upon the Committee’s request, the Bankruptcy Court recently granted Survivors permission to file and serve lawsuits against the Archdiocese and its affiliates despite the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. While these lawsuits will be temporarily paused after filing, taking this action before the May 31, 2025 deadline is essential to preserve full recovery rights.

Q:  Do I need to file a lawsuit even if I already submitted a claim in the bankruptcy case?
A: YES.  Even if you filed a claim in the bankruptcy proceedings, you must still file a lawsuit to preserve your right to recover up to $1.5 million on your claim.

Q:  What happens if I do not file a lawsuit?
A:   If you do not file a lawsuit by May 31, 2025, your maximum amount of recovery may be limited to $700,000.

Q:  What happens after I file my lawsuit?
A:  After filing and serving your lawsuit, your case will be temporarily paused (stayed) pending the resolution of the bankruptcy proceedings.

Q:  Who can I ask for assistance in filing my lawsuit?
A:  It’s critically important that you communicate with your attorney to discuss this.  The Stinson Team, representing the Official Committee of Survivors of Sexual Abuse in this bankruptcy, is engaged in extensive outreach to attorneys.  However, it is the responsibility of all Survivors to ensure that their attorney is taking appropriate action on their behalf.  If you or your attorney have any questions, they can reach out to the Stinson Team via baltimoresurvivorteam@stinson.com

Q:  How do I file my lawsuit if I don’t have an attorney?
A:  Because this is a complex situation that requires a high degree of expertise in the law, the Committee does not recommend that Survivors take this on alone.  Instead, Survivors should consult an attorney.  If you need help filing a lawsuit, you should contact a Maryland attorney or visit the Baltimore County lawyer referral program https://bcba.org/?pg=lawyer-referral-program to be referred to an attorney.