Skip to content 
Image: Coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Baltimore; via Wikipedia.
Survivors of clergy sex abuse are pushing back against the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s effort to shield itself from accountability through bankruptcy court. On Wednesday, The Baltimore Sun reported that representatives for survivors filed a motion to dismiss the bankruptcy case, arguing that it unfairly blocks their ability to pursue damages in civil court.
The Archdiocese of Baltimore filed for bankruptcy in 2023, just days before a new Maryland law took effect that removed the statute of limitations for child sex abuse lawsuits. By filing when it did, the archdiocese effectively halted more than 900 lawsuits from moving forward.
Lawmakers later capped damages in cases against private institutions at $700,000, down from the original $1.15 million limit. Advocates criticized the reduction, warning it narrowed justice for survivors while benefiting powerful institutions like the Catholic Church.
In bankruptcy filings, the Archdiocese has claimed it is protected by Maryland’s doctrine of charitable immunity, which shields religious groups and volunteers from civil liability if they lack liability insurance. Survivors’ attorneys countered that the doctrine is being misused to preserve the church’s wealth while denying survivors their right to be heard in court. They argued the Archdiocese is attempting to maintain its assets while escaping “legal responsibility” for decades of abuse.
“The longer this thing goes on, the harder it is on the survivors,” said attorney and survivor Teresa Lancaster, who appeared in Netflix’s 2017 documentary series The Keepers, which explored clergy abuse and a murder cover-up of a nun in the Baltimore area during the 1960s and 1970s.
If the motion to dismiss is granted, survivors could once again pursue civil claims directly against the Archdiocese of Baltimore, rather than being forced into a bankruptcy settlement process controlled by the church.
Are you or a loved one a survivor of Catholic Church sexual abuse? Learn more with our Catholic Church Lawsuit Guide. You can also get a free case review by filling out the form below.
