Catholic Church spent $10 million on lobbyists in fight to stymie priest sex abuse suits

By Corky Siemaszko: The money was spent in eight northeastern states where bills to aid victims of clerical sex abuse were in the works. The U.S. Catholic Church spent $10.6 million on lobbyists to prevent victims of clerical sex abuse from suing for damages. According to a new report, the money was doled out from 2011 […]

June 5, 2019

stephen weiss priest letter to editor
By Corky Siemaszko:
The money was spent in eight northeastern states where bills to aid victims of clerical sex abuse were in the works.
The U.S. Catholic Church spent $10.6 million on lobbyists to prevent victims of clerical sex abuse from suing for damages.

According to a new report, the money was doled out from 2011 through 2018 in eight northeastern states where bills to reform statute of limitations laws were either in the works or being considered.

“This report lays out what we have known all along — that the Catholic Church refuses to take responsibility for the decades of abuse that took place knowingly under its watch,” said attorney Stephen Weiss, who works for one of the law firms that commissioned the study…

…Asked if he believes the church was willing to spend that kind of money on lobbyists because it feared payouts for victims would cost 10 times more, Weiss said that appears to be the case.

“The church made the soulless decision to spend 10 million of its dollars to evade its responsibility to those harmed by clergy abuse, rather that use those funds toward the healing process,” he said. “Clearly these expenditures were aimed at protecting the church’s financial interests, not at doing the right thing.”

Read more here: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/catholic-church-spent-10-million-lobbyists-fight-stymie-priest-sex-n1013776

Related News

April 1, 2026
Seeger Weiss Welcomes Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Castiglione as Firm Continues to Build Deep Bench of Talented Attorneys

Seeger Weiss is proud to announce that Michael Castiglione has joined the firm as Counsel, bringing nearly two decades of experience in in high-stakes litigation, government investigations, and complex civil matters. Castiglione comes to Seeger Weiss following more than a decade as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in the Eastern District of New York, […]

Read More
March 30, 2026
Ten Seeger Weiss Attorneys Named To The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers Guide

Seeger Weiss is proud to announce that ten Seeger Weiss attorneys have been selected for inclusion in The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers guide. Congratulations to Christopher Seeger, Stephen Weiss, Parvin K. Aminolroaya, Ben Barnett, David R. Buchanan, Steven Daroci, Shauna Itri, Jeremy Kasha, Jennifer Scullion, and Caleb Seeley on this well-deserved recognition. […]

Read More
March 26, 2026
Jury Finds Meta and YouTube Liable in Landmark California Social Media Addiction Trial

A California jury has found Meta and YouTube negligent in designing platforms that harmed a young user, ordering Meta to pay $4.2 million and YouTube to pay $1.8 million in combined compensatory and punitive damages, in what is being called a landmark verdict in social media addiction litigation. Seeger Weiss Founding Partner Christopher Seeger serves […]

Read More