Church Abuse
Lawyers
Faith should be a place of safety and trust. When that trust is broken through abuse, the impact can be deeply lasting. Our institutional abuse lawyers are here to guide survivors through the legal process and hold those responsible to account.
We understand the unique complexities of pursuing claims against religious institutions and are committed to helping survivors seek justice and fair compensation. With extensive experience in Catholic Church matters and cases across all denominations, we work to achieve outcomes that acknowledge the profound impact of religious institutional betrayal.
Recognised in Doyle’s Guide 2025 as a Leading Firm for Institutional Abuse Compensation
Am I eligible to make a church abuse claim?
To pursue legal action for church abuse, you must have experienced harm while under the care, supervision, or spiritual guidance of a religious institution. Whether it occurred in childhood or adulthood, you may be able to seek Catholic Church abuse compensation or compensation for abuse in any denomination if certain criteria are met.
Here are three simple questions that can help you understand whether you may qualify.
1. Were you under the care or authority of a church or religious organisation?
This includes settings such as a parish, diocese, church school, religious camp, youth group, or any activity where the church was responsible for your safety and wellbeing.
2. Did clergy, religious officials, or church representatives cause you harm?
The abuse may have been perpetrated by priests, ministers, pastors, nuns, religious brothers, youth leaders, volunteers, or anyone acting on behalf of the institution. It may also involve situations where the church failed to protect you from harm by others.
3. Has the abuse caused you lasting psychological, physical, or spiritual harm?
This can include ongoing psychological trauma, loss of faith, physical injuries, reduced earning capacity, or the need for continued therapy or support as a direct result of the abuse.
Religious institution abuse claims:
Your rights, our fight
Religious abuse can occur in any place of worship or faith-based organisation, and is considered a form of institutional abuse. Whether the harm happened in a church, mosque, temple, synagogue, or another religious setting, understanding where and how the abuse occurred helps us guide you toward the right legal options.
Catholic church sexual abuse
Abuse by priests, nuns, brothers, or other Catholic clergy in parishes, dioceses, schools, or during Catholic religious activities. These Catholic Church sexual abuse cases frequently involve institutional failures that allowed or hid the misconduct.
Sexual abuse in religious schools
Abuse by teachers, clergy, or staff in church-operated schools, boarding schools, or educational institutions where religious organisations had duty of care responsibilities.
Youth group and camp abuse
Sexual, physical, or emotional abuse during church youth programs, religious camps, retreats, or activities where religious leaders exploited their positions of trust and authority.
Abuse by religious orders
Harm perpetrated by members of religious orders, including Christian Brothers, Marist Brothers, Sisters of Mercy, or other congregations in schools, orphanages, or care institutions.
Institutional cover-up cases
Situations where churches knew about abuse, moved perpetrators to different locations, or actively concealed misconduct, enabling further harm to vulnerable individuals.
Spiritual abuse and manipulation
Exploitation of religious authority to manipulate, control, or harm individuals through misuse of scripture, threats of spiritual consequences, or isolation from support networks.
Physical abuse in religious settings
Excessive corporal punishment, physical violence, or harsh treatment justified through religious doctrine in schools, orphanages, or other church-run facilities.
Emotional and psychological abuse
Systematic humiliation, shaming, isolation, or psychological manipulation within religious contexts that caused lasting mental health impacts.
Speak with a church abuse lawyer now.
Start with a free consultation and get your case reviewed within minutes.
Why Choose Gerard Malouf & Partners
What church abuse compensation can you claim?
Church abuse compensation recognises both the harm you endured and the deep breach of spiritual trust caused by religious institutional abuse. It may cover economic loss, along with pain and suffering. Our Catholic Church abuse lawyers work to ensure your full experience is acknowledged and fairly compensated.
Economic losses
- Medical and therapy expenses: Psychological, psychiatric, trauma, and spiritual counselling.
- Lost income and earning capacity: Wages lost, reduced future earnings, and career disruption.
- Rehabilitation and support: Vocational rehab, educational assistance, life skills programs, and ongoing care.
- Faith-based counselling: Support for religious trauma and rebuilding spiritual wellbeing
Non-economic losses
- Pain and suffering: Emotional and psychological harm, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and complex trauma.
- Loss of faith and spiritual harm: Damage to spiritual identity, loss of community, and difficulty trusting authority figures.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Reduced capacity for relationships, intimacy, trust, and participation in meaningful life experiences.
Aggravated and exemplary damages
In cases involving institutional cover-ups or knowingly moving perpetrators to new locations with access to children, courts may award additional damages. Additional damages may also be granted for systematic failures to protect vulnerable individuals despite known risks, to deter similar conduct.
Family member claims
Family members who witnessed the effects of church abuse and suffered their own trauma may also be entitled to compensation. This could take the form of a nervous shock claim or, in cases where the abuse resulted in death, a wrongful death claim.
Our Unique Fee Reduction Guarantee
Satisfaction first:
Fees second
 If our service fails to meet the high standards we set, we’ll reduce our fees. We are the only Australian firm that backs our service with a written cost reduction promise, giving you total confidence in your claim.
The compensation claim process: Your journey with GMP Law
Initial consultation
Evidence gathering
Claim submission
Negotiation
 We’ll advocate fiercely on your behalf, aiming for a fair settlement that truly reflects your needs.
Court representation
Ongoing support
Why choose our church abuse lawyers?
Our No Win No Fee institutional abuse lawyers specialise in handling some of the most complex and challenging cases. With deep expertise in personal injury and compensation law, we understand the unique difficulties these claims present and know how to navigate them effectively.
Key benefits include:
98% success rate
Australia-wide coverage.
Expert abuse lawyer support in every state
Free initial consultation
to assess your claim
Award-winning lawyers
Proudly recognised by Doyles Guide 2025 for excellence in personal injury legal services
No Win No Fee.
No Win No Fee
Fee transparency that you can trust
At GMP Law, we’re committed to ensuring you have nothing to lose with our No Win No Fee service.
How our No Win No Fee system works:
No upfront costs
Start your claim without any financial risk
No contingency fees.
We don’t take a percentage of your settlement
Fair hourly rates.
When you win, we charge transparent hourly rates
Careful case evaluation.
We only take cases we believe can succeed
Our commitment. If we don’t believe your case will result in compensation or if costs outweigh benefits, we won’t take it on. This dedication to our clients’ best interests sets our No Win No Fee school church abuse lawyers apart.
Proven results: Catholic Church abuse compensation cases
At GMP Law, we’ve successfully represented clients from all walks of life, handling claims for a wide range of harms and trauma resulting from church abuse.
Case 1: Abuse by a priest during pastoral care visits
Background
Our client, a young boy in 1971, suffered sexual abuse by a priest, Fr Bryan Coffey, during pastoral care visits to his home. The abuse had a profound and lasting impact, including complex post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological conditions, affecting his career and earning capacity.
Abuse
Fr Coffey, in a position of trust and authority, abused the boy on two occasions at his home. The victim was vulnerable, isolated, and powerless, while Fr Coffey exploited his role within the Catholic community.
GMP Law’s approach
Legal proceedings were initiated against the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat. Although the Court found Fr Coffey was not formally an employee, it assessed the totality of the relationship between the Diocese, Fr Coffey, and the victim’s family. This holistic and broad inquiry established the Diocese’s vicarious liability for the abuse.
Outcome
The Victorian Supreme Court awarded the client $230,000. While financial compensation cannot undo the abuse, it provides recognition, validation, and acknowledgment of the trauma suffered.
Case 2: Childhood sexual abuse at a catholic primary school
Background
Our client was subjected to abuse by her Year 6 teacher over the course of a year at a Catholic primary school, while she was just age 11 to 12.
Abuse
The teacher was in a position of trust and isolated our client. The teacher committed multiple sexual assaults on school grounds and outside school hours. Investigation revealed he had abused multiple other students. He was charged, convicted, and sentenced.
GMP Law’s approach
We took legal action against the Diocese, showing the teacher should never have been employed due to prior complaints, a criminal record, and use of aliases. A child abuse psychiatrist confirmed the severe impact on our client, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, flashbacks, and educational disruption. We mediated with the Diocese and secured a resolution in her best interests.
Outcome
The court approved a compensation settlement, providing recognition, validation, and some closure, though it cannot undo the abuse.
What our clients say:
These are genuine reviews from real clients on Google, sharing their experiences with our church abuse lawyers.
Turning injuries into justice, transforming lives through compensation
At GMP Law, we’re not just fighting for compensation, we’re fighting for your right to recover, rebuild, and reclaim your life after abuse. Read our case studies:
Historical Abuse Survivor Awarded $950k In Damages
Case Overview Our client is a survivor of historical abuse which dates back to 1988. Having been made a ward of
Man received $350,000 after being sexual abused by teacher
Case Overview Our client experienced abuse as a child between 10-12 years of age. Abuse occurred in and outside of school
15 year old sexual abuse survivor receives over $450,000 from individual perpetrator for abuse when she was 12
Case Overview Miss H, while in Year 6 at Primary School, was the victim of a gross breach of trust when
Man settles claim for $315,000 for sexual abuse perpetrated in New South Wales
Case Overview The plaintiff alleged that he suffered sexual abuse on one occasion during an extended admission at the juvenile detention
$300,000 settlement for juvenile detention centre sexual abuse in the 1970s
Case Overview Our client was sexually abused while at a juvenile detention centre in the mid-1970s. The defendant argued that there
Man settles sexual abuse case for $200,000 perpetrated at a Sydney-based juvenile detention centre
Case Overview Our client suffered childhood sexual abuse while in the custody of a juvenile detention centre. We argued that the
Meet our church abuse lawyers
Meet our dedicated team of institutional abuse lawyers, supporting survivors of Catholic Church abuse across Australia. With a strong track record, we specialise in securing justice and compensation for survivors and their families, helping them heal from the profound trauma caused by institutional failures.
Frequently asked questions about Catholic Church sexual abuse cases
What is the time limit for a church abuse claim?
Following the Royal Commission, most Australian states removed time limits for child sexual abuse claims, including catholic church sexual abuse cases. This allows survivors to pursue legal action decades after the abuse, acknowledging that it often takes many years before survivors feel able to come forward.
While there is no strict time limit, acting promptly has advantages: evidence and memories are clearer, and taking action may help prevent further harm if perpetrators remain in positions of access to vulnerable individuals.
How much compensation can I receive for church abuse?
Church abuse compensation varies based on the severity and duration of abuse, its impact on your life and faith, and ongoing needs. Cases involving childhood sexual abuse by clergy typically settle for $200,000 to $600,000, while severe cases with prolonged abuse, institutional cover-ups, or significant life impacts can exceed $800,000 to over $1 million.
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Catholic church abuse compensation and settlements with other denominations include economic losses (medical expenses, lost income) and non-economic losses (pain and suffering). Our church abuse lawyers assess your individual circumstances to determine appropriate compensation levels and ensure the unique spiritual element of religious institutional abuse claims is properly valued.
What if the priest or church official has died or the parish has closed?
You can still pursue compensation. Religious institutions—not just individuals—are legally responsible for abuse. Dioceses, orders, and denominational bodies often have assets or insurance to satisfy claims.
Our lawyers explore all avenues for accountability, including successor organisations and institutional structures.
Will pursuing a claim affect my current religious practice or community?
Pursuing legal action is separate from your personal faith. Many survivors maintain their religious beliefs and community connections while seeking accountability. Courts focus on institutional responsibility, not your beliefs.
Should I accept National Redress or pursue a civil claim against the church?
For most church abuse survivors, civil claims through experienced catholic church abuse lawyers result in substantially higher compensation and more comprehensive recognition of harm.
The National Redress Scheme caps payments at $150,000 and prevents further legal action, while civil claims can range from $300,000 to over $1 million. Civil claims also account for individual impacts, including spiritual and personal loss.
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Talk to a church abuse lawyer today
Start with a free consultation. Call 1800 004 878, or request a call back below.
