| Holding Bishops Accountable: How Lawsuits Helped the Catholic Church Confront Clergy Sexual Abuse Subjects: Liability for child sexual abuse -- United States; Child sexual abuse by clergy -- United States; Catholic Church -- Trials litigation etc.; Trials (Child sexual abuse) -- United States; The sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy is arguably the most acute crisis Catholicism has faced since the Reformation. The prevalence of clergy sexual abuse and its shocking cover-up by church officials have obscured the largely untold story of the tort system's remarkable success in bringing the scandal to light, focusing attention on the need for institutional reform, and spurring church leaders and public officials into action. |