Within the last few years, Michigan has actively investigated sexual abuse within the Catholic church and shed light on this troubling topic. The Father James A. Holtz sexual abuse accusations are sadly one instance of many where clergy sexual abuse has occurred within the Catholic church.
White Law PLLC is grieved by these allegations, and working with a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer who is dedicated to helping victims receive restitution can help on the journey toward recovery.
The Legal Implications of Clergy Sexual Abuse
Our Michigan sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC wants to ensure you have the resources you need to recover, including filing a claim against your abuser. We understand that it may be difficult to talk about your experience, and years may have passed since the abuse, but filing a claim within Michigan’s statute of limitations ensures you have a strong case and receive maximum compensation. Victims of sexual abuse have three years to file a claim from the time the abuse occurred or until their 28th birthday if they were a minor at the time of the event.
A two-year Michigan investigation has revealed 454 priests accused of sexual abuse, 811 victims, and only 11 charges. Our Michigan personal injury lawyers can help. Father Holtz and the Gaylord Diocese are among several other churches and priests to have committed such acts, as evidenced by a Michigan list of priests accused of sexual abuse. Clergy abuse within the Catholic church, as with any other religious institution, has legal implications for both the abuser and the religious institution itself that can include:
- Criminal charges
- Civil lawsuits
- Church liability
If you or someone you know
endured clergy sex abuse,
contact White Law PLLC today.
How Clergy Sexual Abuse Affects Victims
Talk to a Michigan sexual abuse lawyer today. Clergy sexual abuse is a deeply traumatic experience that profoundly impacts the lives of victims. Victims not only have to navigate the emotional, psychological, and physical effects of the abuse itself, but they also have to process the loss of security and trust in a faith and institution that was supposed to be safe for them.
The long-term effects of clergy abuse on survivors can affect every aspect of life moving forward, including:
- Increased vulnerability to illnesses
- Pregnancy
- STD’s
- Difficulties forming and maintaining relationships
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Self-harm
- Spiritual trauma and withdrawal
You can contact our clergy sex abuse
lawyers today and rest easier with
experienced attorneys tackling your case.
Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church
Clergy sexual abuse has been a serious issue in the Catholic church for years, and many Americans see Catholic clergy sex abuse as an ongoing problem. As many as 81% of people see the issue continuing to take place, and 61% of Catholics say it is most common among priests and bishops.
While many Catholics say that sexual misconduct is common within the church, this problem has far-reaching implications, and Father Holtz is just one story among many that highlights this issue.
Who Is Father James A. Holtz?
Father James A. Holtz was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1947 and became a priest on June 9, 1974, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Cadillac, Michigan. After allegations of sexual misconduct, he was removed from public-facing ministry in 2002 and returned to lay status in 2021. Many of the allegations against Father Holtz took place during the 1970s and 1980s and primarily occurred when his victims were minors.
Allegations Against Father James A. Holtz
The first allegation of Father Holtz came to light in 1988 when the parents of one of his victims came forward to report the abuse. While no details were provided at the time in an effort to protect confidentiality, the Gaylord Diocese contacted the victim and the victim’s parents several years later in 2002 during a thorough review of the case by the Diocese’s Sexual Misconduct Committee.
After the committee confirmed the sexual abuse, the church provided the victim with a list of counselors, payment for counseling, a reference for an attorney, and a formal apology before then removing Holtz from the priesthood.
Throughout the committee’s investigation, more allegations were brought by other individuals who were victims of Father Holtz throughout the 1970s and 1980s. As a broader picture began to develop of Father Holtz and his degree of abuse, it became known that his actions impacted several individuals who were aged 21 years old and younger.
Father Holtz resigned in 2002 amid investigations into his actions, and the church provided Holtz’s victims with resources and restitution.
The Profound Long-Term Implications of Clergy Sexual Abuse for Victims
Acts of sexual abuse by members of the clergy are heinous misuses of power by individuals in authority who are supposed to be trustworthy. The unique role a priest or other religious individual plays in the church is what makes clergy abuse so different from other types of abuse. Clergy are easily able to exploit church members with their power, proximity to vulnerable people and sensitive information, and access to young, impressionable members of the congregation.
Victims who have suffered clergy sexual abuse not only experience the traumatic effects of the abuse itself but also have to deal with the implications it has on their faith and view of religious institutions. These compounding factors have profound effects and make the healing process more complex. Some of the long-term implications for victims of clergy sexual abuse include:
- Feelings of guilt, shame, or embarrassment
- Vulnerable to manipulation by a clergy member to keep the victim silent
- Use of substances to cope with the trauma
- Complex psychological trauma
- Increased risk of suicide
- Lasting pain from physical abuse that may have also occurred
- Lasting mental health conditions
- Disconnection and/or loss of trust in religious institutions or faith
A Michigan Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer Can Fight for You
The horrific actions of James A. Holtz and other priests like him affect hundreds of individuals and speak to a larger problem within the Catholic church. If you have been a victim of sexual abuse by Father James A. Holtz, a clergy sexual abuse lawyer from White Law PLLC, is here to help you through this difficult time.
Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us get you the justice you deserve.
You have the right to reach out to
a clergy sex abuse attorney and
discuss your right to legal action.
