Skip to content 
Photo: Cathedral of Saint Mary in Miami, Florida; via Wikipedia.
The Archdiocese of Miami confirmed it is preparing a response to a lawsuit involving allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by former priest Neil Doherty. The alleged abuse dates back nearly three decades, a statement from the Archdiocese of Miami’s communications department read yesterday.
The statement said that the Archdiocese emphasized its concern for victims and its commitment to justice and healing. Doherty was permanently removed from active ministry in April 2002 and has since been named in multiple lawsuits. The Archdiocese noted that it reports any allegation of child sexual abuse to the State Attorney’s Office in Monroe, Miami-Dade, or Broward County.
The Archdiocese also highlighted steps it has taken since the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops met in Dallas in 2002 to establish new child protection protocols. These include mandatory Level 2 background screenings by both the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI for clergy, employees, teachers, and volunteers who have unsupervised access to children. Fingerprinting is renewed every five years, with any arrests reported to the Archdiocese within 48 hours.
Additionally, all clergy, teachers, and employees must complete VIRTUS child protection training and continue receiving monthly online education. Catholic school and CCD students in grades K–12 are taught boundary safety lessons appropriate to their age.
The Archdiocese encouraged anyone who has experienced abuse by church personnel to come forward by contacting law enforcement, the Archdiocese hotline at 1-866-802-2873, or the Florida Department of Children and Families’ abuse hotline at 1-800-962-2873.
For Survivors of Catholic Church Sexual Abuse:
If you are a survivor of clergy abuse within the Catholic Church, know that you still have legal rights, even if the abuse happened decades ago, even if the priest has died, or even if your diocese has filed for bankruptcy. Survivors across the country are stepping forward to demand justice and accountability.
Visit our Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Guide to learn how you can explore your options and take the first step toward healing and compensation.
You can also see if your case may qualify for legal action by filling out the confidential, secure form below. SurvivorsRights.com may help connect you with an attorney or law firm that specializes in clergy abuse cases.
