Legal Help for Illinois Sexual Assault Survivors & Clergy Abuse
Survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago have rights and can take legal action. Contact us confidentially.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of child abuse in Illinois, it is important to seek legal help as soon as possible. Jeff Anderson & Associates is a leading law firm that specializes in child abuse cases. Our experienced attorneys have helped thousands of victims of sexual abuse, harassment, and priest abuse in Illinois get the justice they deserve.
If you experienced sexual abuse in Illinois, contact us confidentially today.
If you experienced sexual abuse in Illinois, contact us confidentially today.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of child abuse in Illinois, it is important to seek legal help as soon as possible. Jeff Anderson & Associates is a leading law firm that specializes in child abuse cases. Our experienced attorneys have helped thousands of victims of sexual abuse, harassment, and priest abuse in Illinois get the justice they deserve. If you need an abuse attorney in Illinois, we can help. We offer a free consultation so that you can get to know us and our legal team.
Illinois Clergy Child Sex Abuse Survivors Frequently Asked Questions
We represent survivors of sexual abuse across Illinois, including those who have suffered abuse within the Archdiocese of Chicago and beyond. Our team of Illinois clergy abuse attorneys and Chicago sexual abuse lawyers is dedicated to seeking justice for survivors of priest abuse and childhood sexual assault. We emphasize that survivors are never alone, regardless of barriers, and provide trauma-informed resources focused on recognition, justice, and accountability.
Clergy sexual abuse occurs when a member of the clergy or someone acting on behalf of a religious institution uses their position of trust, authority, or spiritual influence to commit sexual abuse or exploitation. Abuse may involve priests, deacons, brothers, seminarians, church employees, volunteers, or other individuals serving within the Church.
Many survivors also experience spiritual manipulation, grooming, or emotional abuse alongside the sexual abuse.
Many survivors do not disclose their abuse until adulthood. Fear, shame, trauma, manipulation, and concern about not being believed often delay disclosure for years.
Even if the abuse occurred decades ago, you may still have options. Laws can change, and certain legal proceedings, such as bankruptcy cases or legislative reforms, may create opportunities for survivors to come forward.
Speaking confidentially with an experienced advocate can help you understand your rights based on your specific circumstances in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Many survivors question their own experiences.
You may wish to speak with someone if:
- A priest or church leader touched you sexually.
- You were groomed or manipulated into sexual activity.
- A member of the clergy exploited their authority to obtain sexual contact.
- You experienced abuse as a child or as an adult.
- You have carried confusing memories that still affect your life today.
You do not have to decide whether your experience “counts” before reaching out.
That is common.
Many survivors never told anyone because they feared retaliation, believed they would not be believed, blamed themselves, or were manipulated into secrecy.
Coming forward today can still matter for you and potentially for others.
Yes.
Your initial conversation with Jeff Anderson & Associates is confidential. The firm emphasizes protecting survivors’ privacy while explaining available options. Speaking with an attorney does not obligate you to file a lawsuit or take any legal action.
You should still consider speaking with an advocate.
Legal claims may involve religious institutions that enabled, concealed, or failed to prevent abuse, not solely the individual offender. Every situation is unique, and an attorney can explain whether legal options may still exist.
Clergy abuse cases may involve:
- Religious brothers
- Deacons
- Seminarians
- Nuns or sisters
- Church employees
- Youth ministers
- Volunteers
- Coaches or teachers working within Catholic institutions
If the abuse occurred in connection with a Catholic parish, school, ministry, or religious organization, it may be worth discussing your situation confidentially.
Survivors come forward for many different reasons.
Some want answers.
Some want accountability.
Some want to protect children today.
Others simply want someone to believe them.
There is no wrong reason to tell your story.
Yes.
Investigations, civil litigation, public records, and reports, including the Illinois Attorney General’s statewide investigation, have documented allegations involving numerous clergy members assigned throughout Illinois, including the Archdiocese of Chicago. These investigations also examined institutional responses to allegations over many decades.
The process typically begins with a confidential conversation. No one will know you contacted our firm.
During that discussion, you may:
- Share your experience at your own pace.
- Ask questions.
- Learn about your legal rights.
- Discuss possible next steps.
- Decide whether you want to move forward.
There is no obligation to pursue a claim simply because you reached out.
Jeff Anderson & Associates offers confidential consultations for survivors to discuss their situation and potential legal options. During your conversation, the firm can explain how representation works and answer questions about costs or fees.
That is entirely your decision.
Some survivors contact an attorney simply to understand their rights or learn what options are available. Others choose never to pursue legal action.
The choice belongs to you.
Many survivors say that sharing their experience helped expose patterns of abuse, identify additional survivors, or hold institutions accountable.
While every survivor’s journey is different, speaking up has often played an important role in uncovering abuse that otherwise remained hidden.
If you are a survivor of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago, you have rights and can take legal action. Contact us confidentially today.
If you are a survivor of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago, you have rights and can take legal action. Contact us confidentially today.
Meet the Team – Our Illinois Attorneys
Jeff Anderson, Marc Pearlman, and Melissa Anderson are steadfast in their mission to empower survivors and help them in their journey towards healing and justice.
For decades, we’ve worked alongside Chicago-based firm Frost & Pearlman to help survivors pursue justice, expose wrongdoing, and hold institutions accountable. A rarity in the legal field, we both work exclusively on sexual abuse cases and have represented hundreds of survivors in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Illinois Attorney General Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse
In August of 2018, Lisa Madigan, the Attorney General at the time, announced that her office would be opening an investigation into clergy child sexual abuse in the state. In December of the same year, Madigan shared the preliminary results of said investigation, revealing they had found more than 500 additional priests and clergy members with sexual abuse allegations, with a grand total of at least 685 accused clergy members.
Report: Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese and Diocese in Illinois
This report contains the names of clergy associated with the Diocese in Illinois who have been accused of sexual misconduct. While lawsuits were filed involving many of these alleged perpetrators, the vast majority of the claims against these individuals have been settled or have not been fully evaluated in a civil court. Accordingly, the allegations should be considered just allegations and should not be considered proven or substantiated in a court of law. Download the report.
If you have any questions regarding child sexual abuse or need additional resources, visit our questions and answers page. We have created a comprehensive FAQ section that addresses common questions about abuse, aiming to transform victims into empowered survivors through education, awareness, and support.
Illinois Clergy Abuse Attorneys: Our Legal Team
The alliance of Jeff Anderson & Associates and Frost & Pearlman is the most recognized team of clergy abuse attorneys in Chicago and all of Illinois. As sexual abuse lawyers, we have represented thousands of victims of childhood sexual abuse in cases against individual offenders and the institutions that harbor them. We are engaged with a national network of attorneys who share our mission, and when we take a case, we exhaust every imaginable resource in order to serve our clients’ needs.
Marc Pearlman
Attorney – Illinois
Marc Pearlman, of the Chicago-based law firm Frost and Pearlman, is an intense and focused Chicago clergy abuse attorney practitioner with significant experience working alongside Jeff Anderson & Associates representing survivors of priest abuse and sexual abuse and exploitation in general. He has participated in many domestic and international arbitrations and acted as national coordinating counsel for his clients.
In representing victims of sexual abuse and exploitation, Marc is committed to advocating on behalf of and protecting the interests of children and vulnerable adults. In addition to litigating and settling cases on behalf of his clients, Marc has assisted in drafting legislation and worked to change law to better protect victims of sexual abuse.
Marc graduated from Cornell University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1991.
An accomplished athlete, Marc played four years of football at Cornell, and was a black belt in judo and a ten-time United States judo champion. In 1984, he was the youngest member invited to the U.S. Olympic trials. Marc attributes some of his most positive workplace qualities – teamwork, loyalty, discipline and determination – to having participated in these sports.
Marc Pearlman Bar Admissions:
- Illinois
- U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
Melissa Anderson
Attorney – Illinois
Melissa A. Anderson, of the Chicago-based law firm Frost and Pearlman, is honored to bring her years of civil litigation and dispute resolution experience to advocate on behalf of survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
With a passion for helping children and adults impacted by such abuse, Melissa seeks to bring a sense of calm and empowerment to those for whom she advocates and is dedicated to holding offenders and their enabling institutions accountable.
Melissa obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and her J.D. with honors from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Melissa continues to reside in the Chicago suburbs where she is raising her two young boys.
If you are a survivor of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago, you have rights and can take legal action. Contact us confidentially today.
You Are Not Alone – We Support Illinois Sexual Abuse Survivors
If you were sexually abused as a child in Chicago, or anywhere else in Illinois, call us for a free consultation with one of our Illinois sexual abuse attorneys. Our staff of attorneys, paralegals, and advocates have years of experience working with survivors of priest sexual abuse and work hard to ensure that each survivor’s call is handled with compassion, respect and confidentiality. Contact us today.
We know that taking this step can be difficult. Our Illinois clergy abuse attorneys and Chicago sexual abuse lawyers are here to guide you every step of the way. We will listen to your story with compassion and help you understand your legal options for seeking justice and accountability.
Clergy Accused of Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese & Diocese in Illinois
The list below contains the names of clergy who were assigned within or working in the archdiocese or diocese in Illinois who have been accused of sexual misconduct. While lawsuits were filed involving many of these alleged perpetrators, the vast majority of the claims against these individuals have been settled or have not been fully evaluated in a civil or criminal court. Accordingly, the allegations should be considered just allegations and should not be considered proved or substantiated in a court of law.
All individuals should be considered innocent until proven guilty. In some situations, the statute of limitations has expired preventing cases from being heard in a court of law. The information contained herein is an attempt to compile information already available to the public including information obtained from the media, www.bishopaccountability.org, the Archdiocese’s public statements, lists and reports that were released to the public, and other sources that have attempted to chronicle this information for public use.
