MARYLAND AND D.C. CLERGY ABUSE: PRIESTS, MINISTERS, PASTORS, IMAMS AND RABBIS

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is a premier Clergy abuse attorney in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. area.  He and his national law firm (Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors) are well-experienced and highly regarded for their successful advocacy for child and adult victims of sexual, emotional and physical abuse by priests, ministers, pastors, imams and rabbis.

Attorney Ware can be reached by telephone (410-720-6129 or 410-730-5016), his website (www.CharlesJeromeWare.com), or one of his emails (CharlesJeromeWare@MSN.com).  Initial consultation is free.

Clergy sexual abuse is not exclusively a Catholic Church problem.  It is a problem that occurs in all religions and faiths.

There are some studies which state that 10 to 20 percent of all clergy --- including priests, ministers, pastors, imams and rabbis --- have had sexual contacts and involvements with their parishioners, followers, and members.

MARYLAND Statute of Limitations for Clergy and Sex Abuse Civil Cases:

1. Maryland Statute of limitations state that child sex abuse cases may be filed up to 7 years after the victim’s 18^th birthday [MD. CODE ANN., CTS. & JUD. PROC. § 5-117 (2008)]. Lesser suits based on injuries that are caused by sexual violations of a minor which does not constitute sexual abuse have a Statute of Limitations of 3 years; and potentially until 3 years after the victim’s 18^th birthday [See id. § 5-101. Id. § 5-201].
2. Maryland Courts have not extended the common law discovery rule in regards to child sexual abuse violations [see, e.g., Doe v. Archdiocese of Washington, 689 A.2d 634 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1997)].
3. As of October 1, 2003, there is no retroactivity. 2003 Md. Laws 360, sec 2.

MARYLAND Statute of Limitations (SOL) in Criminal Cases for Clergy and Sexual Abuse:

There is no Statute of Limitations (SOL) for Felony clergy and sexual abuse cases.

There is no Statute of Limitations in Maryland for felony sex abuse offenses [see Clark v. State, 744 A.2d 113, n.8 (Md. 2001)]. There is a liberal classification in Maryland of sex abuse offenses [MD. CODE ANN., CRIM. LAW §§ 3-301 to -324 (2008)]. Misdemeanors sex abuse offense can be prosecuted within a year of the offense [MD. CODE ANN., CTS. & JUD. PROC. § 5-106 (2008)].

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (DC) Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Civil Cases:

1. There is a delayed Statute of Limitations of 3 years after your 18^th birthday for filing sexual abuse cases [D.C. Code § 12-301].
2. “…the statute of limitations begins… when a plaintiff either has actual knowledge of a cause of action or is charged with knowledge of that cause of action.” [Cevenini v. Archbishop of Washington, 707 A.2d 768 (D.C. 1998)].

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (DC) Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Criminal Cases:

1. Depending on individual circumstance, 1^st and 2^nd degree sexual abuse committed on a minor may be prosecuted up to 15 years after the offense has been committed [D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(2)].
2. There is a delayed toll for minors of 10 to 15 years after the victim’s 21^st birthday, contingent upon the offense [D.C. Code § 23-113(d)].

Experts from many religious institutions and faiths report on the extensive harm caused to both children and adults because of the impact of sexual boundary violations by ministers, pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and other clergy.

The law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, knows that victims of clergy abuse need therapy and other treatment to reclaim their lives.  We will do all that we can to help victims of this tragedy.  Call us at (410) 720-6129 or (410) 730-5016.

Victims do not need to suffer in silence.

[forum.chnetwork.org/ "It Ain't Just Catholic Priests"; www.clergyabuse.org/states-served/ "Clergy Abuse in Washington, D.C."; "Sex Abuse by Clerics - A Crisis of Many Faiths", Los Angeles Times, Teresa Watanbe, March 25, 2003; "Theme: Clergy Sexual Abuse," The Lutheran, June 2002; "Why Do We Cover This?", Marvin Olasky (cover story), Wolrd Magazine, March 30, 2002; "rabbi's Odyssey Reflects Struggle on Sexual Abuse: Jews Begin to Confront Silence That Hid Clergy's Misdeeds", Alan Cooperman, Washington Post, Sunday, February 2, 2003, p. A17; www.adultsabusedbyclergy.org/ "Misconduct by Ministers, Priests, Rabbis and Other Clergy]