Clergy Abuse in Colorado

Colorado Clergy Abuse Lawsuits

In the last decade, reports of clergy abuse have been documented in every state in the country. Prosecutors have launched investigations into the systemic sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Lawmakers in several states broadened the legal rights of victims through legislation. And, survivors of abuse are taking legal action against their abusers and the organizations that hid the abuse.

The Colorado priest abuse report was the first step for the state to address decades of abuse. However, due to current state laws, the majority of victims abused by a clergy member in Colorado are unable to file a civil lawsuit. These cases date back decades and are thus time-barred from the civil legal process. However, recent legislation has expanded the timeframe for victims to file criminal cases.

Victim advocates are fighting for additional legislative changes to expand these legal deadlines. Several states have done so in the last few years. Such changes would grant more time for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to process their trauma and seek justice in court.

Colorado Sexual Assault Legislation

In recent years, Colorado lawmakers have passed two bills that benefit victims of sexual assault.

2016 | HB-1260

HB 16-1260 extends the legal deadline to press criminal charges of sexual assault from 10 years to 20 years.

2019 | HB-1030

HB 19-1030 “creates the crime of unlawful electronic sexual communication,” with minors.

The Need for Amended Child Sexual Abuse Laws in Colorado

Although these two bills expand a victim’s rights, many advocates believe these laws don’t do enough. Survivors of child sexual abuse still have limited options when it comes to pursuing civil claims in Colorado.

Currently, survivors have just six years after they reach 18 years of age to file a civil lawsuit against their abuser. For many survivors of child sexual abuse, it can take decades to process the trauma and find the courage to face their abuser in a courtroom. The current laws don’t take this into account.

On February 12, 2020, Colorado state lawmakers proposed House Bill 1296 (HB 1296) to address the deficiencies in the current laws. Among other important provisions, HB 1296 would have eliminated the statute of limitations for survivors of sexual assault to file civil lawsuits against their abuser.

However, unlike similar legislation passed in other states, HB 1296 would not have applied retroactively to expired cases. Some lawmakers believe a retroactive provision would violate Colorado’s state constitution.

The lack of retroactive measures was widely debated and criticized by many victim advocates. In June 2020, one of the lead sponsors of the bill, state Senator Julie Gonzales, asked for the bill to be rejected. Gonzales hopes to propose a future bill that will retroactively help survivors of sexual assault with expired cases.

What Is the Statute of Limitations on Priest Sexual Abuse in Colorado?

When taking any legal action against an abuser, a victim must follow the statute of limitations related to the crime.

The legal deadline a survivor must follow will differ depending on whether the survivor is pressing criminal charges or filing a civil lawsuit.

Criminal Charges

There are two types of criminal charges a victim may bring against an abuser. Depending on the severity of the crime, sexual assault may be considered a felony or a misdemeanor. In Colorado, there is a different legal deadline for felony charges versus misdemeanor charges.

Felony – In Colorado, felony charges of sexual assault must be filed within 20 years of the crime. If a victim was younger than 18 and older than 14 at the time of the abuse, the victim has 20 years to press charges after he or she turns 18 years of age.

Misdemeanor – In Colorado, misdemeanor charges of sexual assault must be filed against an abuser within five years of the crime.

Learn more about the criminal statutes of limitations in Colorado here.

Civil Lawsuit

According to current Colorado law, a survivor of child sexual assault has six years, after turning 18, to file a civil claim against his or her abuser. Once a survivor reaches 24 years of age, he or she will no longer be able to file a civil claim of child sexual abuse in the state of Colorado.

Clergy Abuse Settlements in Colorado

There are more than 40 priests accused of abuse in Colorado. According to the investigation’s resulting report, 166 children were the victims of sexual abuse by these priests. This high number of victims has led to a large number of lawsuits. To avoid lengthy and costly trials, the Catholic Dioceses of Colorado has settled many of these priest abuse cases.

By July 2008, the Denver Archdiocese settled 43 claims against just three abusive priests. The archdiocese paid more than $8.2 million to settle all the claims.

Colorado Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program

In 2019, the Colorado Dioceses and the state attorney general’s office created the Colorado Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program (IRRP).

The program established a fund to pay compensation to priest abuse victims. If a survivor of abuse chooses to accept the money offered through the IRRP, he or she forgoes any future rights to sue the dioceses.

In October 2020, the program announced preliminary results of applications submitted and compensation paid out. In total, 98 people filed claims through the IRRP. 81 of these claimants were deemed eligible for compensation.

The Colorado Dioceses have paid $6.68 million dollars in compensation to 73 of the claimants. The program administrators are currently working to finalize compensation for the eight remaining claimants.

The IRRP is closed and no longer accepting new claims.

List of Priests Accused of Abuse in Colorado

This is a list of Catholic priests accused of abuse in Colorado. This list does not include clergy members of other religious orders or denominations. This list does not include staff members, volunteers or congregation members accused of abuse in the Colorado Dioceses.

If you believe any of the Roman Catholic priests accused of abuse in Colorado were active abusers in other states, search for their name using our nationwide, searchable database of accused priests.

If you do not see the name you are looking for within our list of priests accused of abuse in Colorado, this does not limit your legal options. This list may expand as additional abusive priests in Colorado are identified.

If you or someone you know is a survivor of priest abuse in Colorado, you have legal rights. Learn more about your legal options by consulting one of our experienced lawyers today.

Colorado Priest Abuse Victim Resources

There are many programs and organizations that support sexual abuse survivors in Colorado. These groups provide useful resources for victims and their families. This list of sexual violence support programs in Colorado is organized by county.

Colorado Sexual Violence Programs by County

County	Facility Name	Phone Number(s)
Adams	The Blue Bench	Hotline: 303-322-7273 Office: 303-329-9922
Adams	Family Tree	Hotline: 303-420-6752
Alamosa	Tu Casa, Inc.	Hotline: 719-589-2465
Arapahoe	The Blue Bench	Hotline: 303-322-7273 Office: 303-329-9922
Arapahoe	Family Tree	Hotline: 303-420-6752
Archuleta	Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO)	Hotline: 970-247-5400 Office: 970-259-3074
Archuleta	Rise Above Violence	Hotline: 970-264-9075 Office: 970-264-1129
Baca	Domestic Safety Resource Center	Hotline: 719-336-4357
Bent	Arkansas Valley Resource Center	Hotline: 719-384-7764
Boulder	Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA)	Hotline: 303-443-7300 Office: 303-443-0400
Boulder	Family Tree	Hotline: 303-420-6752
Broomfield	The Blue Bench	Hotline: 303-322-7273 Office: 303-329-9922
Broomfield	Family Tree	Hotline: 303-420-6752
Chaffee	The Alliance	Hotline: 719-539-7347
Cheyenne	Domestic Safety Resource Center	Hotline: 719-336-4357
Clear Creek	Clear Creek County Advocates	Hotline: 303-569-3126 Office: 303-679-2426
Clear Creek	PeaceWorks, Inc.	Hotline: 303-838-8181 Office: 303-838-7176
Conejos	Tu Casa, Inc.	Hotline: 719-589-2465
Costilla	Tu Casa, Inc.	Hotline: 719-589-2465
Crowley	Arkansas Valley Resource Center	Hotline: 719-384-7764
Custer	Family Crisis Services, Inc.	Hotline: 719-275-2429
Delta	Latimer House Hilltop	Hotline: 1-844-990-5500
Denver	The Blue Bench	Hotline: 303-322-7273 Office: 303-329-9922
Denver	Family Tree	Hotline: 303-420-6752
Dolores	Renew, Inc.	Hotline: 970-565-2100 Office: 970-565-4886
Douglas	The Blue Bench	Hotline: 303-322-7273 Office: 303-329-9922
Douglas	Family Tree	Hotline: 303-420-6752
Eagle	Response	Hotline: 970-925-SAFE (7233) Office: 970-920-5357
Eagle	Bright Future Foundation	Hotline: 970-949-7086 Office: 970-949-7097
El Paso	Haseya Advocate Program	Office: 719-600-3939
El Paso	TESSA	Hotline: 719-633-3819 Office: 719-633-1462
Elbert	The Blue Bench	Hotline: 303-322-7273 Office: 303-329-9922
Fremont	The Alliance	Hotline: 719-539-7347
Fremont	Family Crisis Services, Inc.	Hotline: 719-275-2429
Garfield	Advocate Safehouse Project	Hotline: 970-945-4439 Hotline: 970-285-0209 Office: 970-945-2632
Gilpin	The Blue Bench	Hotline: 303-322-7273 Office: 303-329-9922
Gilpin	Family Tree	Hotline: 303-420-6752
Grand	Advocates for A Violence-Free Community	Hotline: 970-725-3412 Office: 970-725-3442
Gunnison	Project Hope of Gunnison Valley	Hotline: 970-275-1193 Office: 970-641-2712
Hinsdale	Project Hope of Gunnison Valley	Hotline: 970-275-1193 Office: 970-641-2712
Hinsdale	Rise Above Violence	Hotline: 970-264-9075 Office: 970-264-1129
Huerfano	Advocates Against Domestic Assault	Hotline: 719-846-6665 Office: 719-846-9159
Jackson	The Sexual Assault Victim Advocate (SAVA) Center	Hotline: 970-472-4200
Jefferson	The Blue Bench	Hotline: 303-322-7273 Office: 303-329-9922
Jefferson	Family Tree	Hotline: 303-420-6752
Jefferson	PeaceWorks, Inc.	Hotline: 303-838-8181 Office: 303-838-7176
Kiowa	Domestic Safety Resource Center	Hotline: 719-336-4357
Kit Carson	SARA House	Office: 970-867-2121
La Plata	Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO)	Hotline: 970-247-5400 Office: 970-259-3074
Lake	Advocates of Lake County, Inc.	Hotline: 719-486-3530
Larimer	The Sexual Assault Victim Advocate (SAVA) Center	Hotline: 970-472-4200
Larimer	Estes Valley Crisis Advocates	Hotline: 970-586-4000 Office: 970-577-9781
Larimer	Alternatives to Violence	Hotline: 970-880-1000 Office: 970-669-5150
Las Animas	Advocates Against Domestic Assault	Hotline: 719-846-6665 Office: 719-846-9159
Lincoln	The Blue Bench	Hotline: 303-322-7273 Office: 303-329-9922
Logan	SARA House	Office: 970-867-2121
Mesa	Latimer House Hilltop	Hotline: 1-844-990-5500
Mineral	Tu Casa, Inc.	Hotline: 719-589-2465
Moffat	Open Heart Advocates (formerly Advocates Crisis Support Services of Craig)	Hotline: 970-824-2400 Office Line: 970-824-9709
Montezuma	Renew, Inc.	Hotline: 970-565-2100 Office: 970-565-4886
Montrose	Latimer House Hilltop	Hotline: 1-844-990-5500
Morgan	SARA House	Office: 970-867-2121
Otero	Arkansas Valley Resource Center	Hotline: 719-384-7764
Ouray	Latimer House Hilltop	Hotline: 1-844-990-5500
Park	PeaceWorks, Inc.	Hotline: 303-838-8181 Office: 303-838-7176
Phillips	SARA House	Office: 970-867-2121
Pitkin	Response	Hotline: 970-925-SAFE (7233) Office: 970-920-5357
Prowers	Domestic Safety Resource Center	Hotline: 719-336-4357
Pueblo	Pueblo Rape Crisis Services (PRCS)	Hotline: 719-549-0549 Office: 719-544-1191
Rio Blanco	Safehouse, Inc.	Office: 970-878-3131
Rio Grande	Tu Casa, Inc.	Hotline: 719-589-2465
Routt	Advocates of Routt County	Hotline: 970-879-8888 Office: 970-879-2034
Saguache	Tu Casa, Inc.	Hotline: 719-589-2465
San Juan	Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO)	Hotline: 970-247-5400 Office: 970-259-3074
San Miguel	Alternative Horizons	Hotline: 970-247-9619
Sedgwick	SARA House	Office: 970-867-2121
Summit	Advocates for Victims of Assault	Hotline: 970-668-3906 Office: 970-668-3906
Teller	TESSA	Hotline: 719-633-3819 Office: 719-633-1462
Washington	SARA House	Office: 970-867-2121
Weld	The Sexual Assault Victim Advocate (SAVA) Center	Hotline: 970-472-4200
Yuma	SARA House	Office: 970-867-2121
Sources:	Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Violence Free Colorado

Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault

The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) is “the collective voice of rape crisis advocates across the state of Colorado.” The organization works in a number of ways to address and prevent sexual assault across the state.

Colorado Clergy Abuse FAQs

How Do I Report Sexual Abuse By a Priest in Colorado?

To report sexual abuse of a minor in Colorado:

Please call the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 844-CO-4-Kids (26-4-5437) to report child sexual abuse.

You may also report sexual abuse of a minor to the Colorado Attorney General’s Office by completing an online form found here.

To report any sexual assault:

If you or a loved one are a victim of sexual assault, you can report the assault in two main ways.

• Sexual assault can be reported to local law enforcement.
• Sexual assault can be reported by way of seeking a medical forensic exam.

If the victim seeks a forensic exam, the evidence will be sent to local law enforcement. The victim may choose to report anonymously. If he or she does so, no contact information will be included with the evidence sent to law enforcement.

The victim also has the right not to test the evidence. If the victim chooses this route, the law enforcement agency will hold onto the evidence for two years, during which time, a victim has the right to pursue criminal charges against the abuser.

Learn more about reporting abuse cases in Colorado here.

To report abuse to the Archdiocese of Denver:

Contact the Office of Child & Youth Protection by calling 720-239-2832 or emailing [email protected].

To report abuse to the Diocese of Colorado Springs:

You can electronically report abuse to the Colorado Springs Diocese by filling out the online form here.

To report abuse to the Diocese of Pueblo:

Report all abuse claims committed by a clergy member to the Vicar for Clergy.

Rev. Msgr. Edward Nunez | Vicar for Clergy
Phone: ​719-544-9861  ext. 1121
Email Address: [email protected]

Report all abuse claims committed by a diocesan or parish staff member to ​the Diocesan Human Resources Department.

​Nancy Martinez | Safe Environment and Human Resources
Phone: ​719-544-9861  ext. 1110
Email Address: [email protected]

For more information about reporting abuse, visit our resource page today >

Do I Have to Currently Live in Colorado to File a Colorado Priest Abuse Lawsuit?

You do not have to live in Colorado to file a clergy sex abuse lawsuit in the state. However, the case must relate to the state in some way. For example, a survivor of abuse may file a lawsuit against a priest or a specific diocese in Colorado if the abuse took place there.

Who Can File on Behalf of a Victim?

Someone who has legal authority for a victim of abuse may file a lawsuit on the victim’s behalf. Most often, this person would be a victim’s parent, guardian or conservator. A victim’s estate may also seek legal action on behalf of the victim.