Clergy Abuse in Montana

Montana Sexual Assault Laws

Across the country, survivors of clergy abuse are coming forward with their experiences. Many of the allegations are several decades old. Thus, under many state laws, survivors are no longer able to file civil lawsuits against their abusers. Recognizing this legal rights issue, state lawmakers are making legislative changes to help victims.

Several states passed significant legislation to broaden the rights of survivors of abuse. In 2019, Montana joined this list of states by passing House Bill 640.

Montana House Bill 640 Revises Childhood Sexual Abuse Laws

In May 2019, Montana Governor Steve Bullock signed House Bill 640 (HB 640) into law. HB 640 expanded the legal rights of victims of childhood sexual abuse. The law provides a number of important provisions:

• HB 640 extended the legal deadline for civil claims of childhood sexual abuse.
• HB 640 opened a one-year “look back” window during which a survivor of childhood sexual abuse file a civil lawsuit against an abuser regardless of the legal deadlines.
• HB640 removed the legal deadline to press criminal charges against a perpetrator of childhood sexual abuse.

Montana Clergy Abuse Lawsuits

The Catholic Church is currently facing clergy abuse lawsuits across the United States. The Montana Dioceses of Helena and Great Falls-Billings have faced many lawsuits regarding clergy sex abuse. Both dioceses filed for bankruptcy to cover their debts brought on by litigation.

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

To file a legal claim against an abuser, a victim of sexual abuse must file a claim within the statute of limitations.

In the state of Montana, a victim of child sexual abuse must follow one statute to press criminal charges and a different statute to file civil claims against an abuser.

Civil Claims

In Montana, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse must file civil claims against an abuser:

• Before the survivor reaches 27 years of age

OR

• No later than 3 years after the survivor discovers or reasonably should have discovered that an injury was caused by an experience of childhood sexual abuse

Before Montana lawmakers passed HB640, abuse victims had to file civil claims before they reached 24 years of age.

Criminal Charges

In Montana, there is no legal deadline to press criminal charges against a perpetrator of child sexual abuse. The time limit on criminal charges of child sex abuse was eliminated by HB640.

Montana Legal “Look Back” Window

HB640 opened a one-year legal “look back” window in the state of Montana. Starting May 7, 2019, any survivor of child sexual abuse has one year to file a civil claim against his or her abuser. This includes cases that are expired according to the new legal deadline for civil claims.

Montana’s “look back” window does have one main criteria that must be met to file a claim. The abuser or named defendant in the case must be alive at the time the legal action begins. This provision limits some survivors of clergy abuse from filing a claim in cases where the abusive priest is deceased.

The Montana “look back” window for child sexual abuse survivors closed on May 6, 2020. 

Dioceses of Montana Bankruptcies

Currently, more than 20 Catholic dioceses filed for bankruptcy after facing clergy abuse lawsuits in the United States. For these Catholic dioceses, many of the creditors are survivors of clergy abuse.

The two Catholic Dioceses of Montana both filed for bankruptcy in the midst of abuse allegations and legal claims.

Helena Diocese

In January 2014, the Diocese of Helena filed for bankruptcy. Prior to filing, the diocese paid $9 million to settle clergy abuse claims. Because of this, by 2014, the diocese was struggling financially and still faced numerous sexual abuse claims. Bankruptcy allowed the diocese to reorganize its assets to maintain operations and settle its debts.

A little over a year after filing, the diocese paid approximately $21 million to compensate 360 victims. As part of the bankruptcy settlement, the diocese also agreed to several non-monetary conditions.

Great Falls-Billings Diocese

In March 2017, the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings Diocese filed for bankruptcy. However, the bankruptcy filing for the diocese was shrouded in controversy.

Between 2011 and 2018, 86 people made claims of child sexual abuse against the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings. Before the first trial began, the diocese filed for bankruptcy.

An additional lawsuit against the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings was filed shortly after the bankruptcy filing. The lawsuit claimed the diocese transferred assets into a non-profit corporation before filing for bankruptcy.

By moving assets into a non-profit corporation, the Great Falls-Billings Diocese protected assets from the scrutiny of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, claiming fewer assets than the diocese actually had.

In March 2018, the diocese filed to dismiss the bankruptcy proceedings. The diocese claimed that stalled mediation attempts were financially draining the diocese. However, later that year, the diocese reached a settlement agreement with victims through the bankruptcy court. The diocese paid $20 million to compensate 86 victims. Like the Diocese of Helena, the Great Falls-Billings Diocese agreed to non-monetary terms.

List of Priests Accused of Abuse in Montana

Below is a list of Catholic priests accused of abuse in Montana. There may be other types of accused clergy members on our list. This list does not include diocesan staff, parish volunteers or congregation members accused of abuse.

If you can’t find an abuser on our list of abusive priests in Montana, you can search for the priest using our searchable, nationwide database of accused priests. However, your abuser does not need to be on our list for you to file a lawsuit. Our list will grow and change as more survivors of abuse come forward with their experiences.

If you or a loved one has been abused by a clergy member in Montana, speak with our legal team about your rights. We want to help you get the justice you deserve.

Montana Priest Abuse Victim Resources

Victims of priest abuse do not have to suffer in silence. There are many different programs across the state of Montana that provide resources to survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault. The table below offers Montana victim resources organized by county.

Montana Sexual Violence Programs by County

County	Facility Name	Phone Number(s)
Beaverhead	Community Support Center	Hotline: 1-800-253-9811 Office: 406-683-6106
Big Horn	YWCA Billings	Hotline: 406-679-5145
Blaine	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Broadwater	The Friendship Center	Hotline: 406-442-6800
Carbon	YWCA Billings	Hotline: 406-245-4472 Office: 406-252-6303
Carbon	Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS)	Hotline: 406-425-2222
Carter	Custer Network Against Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault (CNADA)	Hotline: 1-888-799-0542
Cascade	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Cascade	Voices of Hope	Office: 1-406-268-1330
Chouteau	Hi-Lines Help for Abused Spouses	Hotline: 800-219-7336 Office: 406-278-3342
Chouteau	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Custer	Custer Network Against Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault (CNADA)	Hotline: 1-888-799-0542
Daniels	Glasgow Victim-Witness Advocate	*Call your local police department for more information.
Dawson	Dawson County Domestic Violence Program	Hotline: 406-989-1318 Office: 406-377-6477
Deer Lodge	Safe Space	Hotline: 406-782-8511 Office: 406-782-9807
Fallon	Custer Network Against Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault (CNADA)	Hotline: 1-888-799-0542
Fergus	SAVES, Inc.	Hotline: 406-535-2303
Fergus	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Flathead	The Abbie Shelter	Hotline: 406-752-7273 Office: 406-752-4735
Gallatin	Help Center, Inc.	Hotline: 406-586-3333
Garfield	Custer Network Against Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault (CNADA)	Hotline: 1-888-799-0542
Garfield	SAVES, Inc.	Hotline: 406-535-2303
Glacier	Hi-Lines Help for Abused Spouses	Hotline: 800-219-7336 Office: 406-278-3342
Glacier	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Golden Valley	SAVES, Inc.	Hotline: 406-535-2303
Granite	Safe Space	Hotline: 406-782-8511 Office: 406-782-9807
Granite	First Step Resource Center St. Patrick Hospital	Office: 406-329-5776
Granite	YWCA of Missoula	Hotline: 406-542-1944 Office: 406-543-6691
Hill	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Jefferson	Safe Space	Hotline: 406-782-8511 Office: 406-782-9807
Jefferson	The Friendship Center	Hotline: 406-442-6800
Judith Basin	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Judith Basin	SAVES, Inc.	Hotline: 406-535-2303
Lake	First Step Resource Center	Office: 406-329-5776
Lake	YWCA of Missoula	Hotline: 406-542-1944 Office: 406-543-6691
Lake	SAFE Harbor	Hotline: 406-676-0800 Office: 406-676-0992
Lewis and Clark	The Friendship Center	Hotline: 406-442-6800
Lewis and Clark	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Liberty	Hi-Lines Help for Abused Spouses	Hotline: 800-219-7336 Office: 406-278-3342
Liberty	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Lincoln	Lincoln County Crisis Solutions (LCCS)	Hotline: 406-293-3223
Madison	Safe Space	Hotline: 406-782-8511 Office: 406-782-9807
Madison	Help Center, Inc.	Hotline: 406-586-3333
Madison	Community Support Center	Hotline: 1-800-253-9811 Office: 406-683-6106
McCone	Richland County Coalition Against Domestic Violence	Office: 406-433-7421
Meagher	Abuse Support & Prevention Education Network (ASPEN)	Hotline: 406-222-8154 Office: 406-222-5902
Meagher	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Meagher	The Friendship Center	Hotline: 406-442-6800
Mineral	YWCA of Missoula	Hotline: 406-542-1944 Office: 406-543-6691
Missoula	First Step Resource Center	Office: 406-329-5776
Missoula	Crime Victim Advocate (CVA) Program	Office: 406-258-3830
Missoula	YWCA of Missoula	Hotline: 406-542-1944 Office: 406-543-6691
Musselshell	YWCA Billings	Hotline: 406-245-4472 Office: 406-252-6303
Musselshell	SAVES, Inc.	Hotline: 406-535-2303
Park	Abuse Support & Prevention Education Network (ASPEN)	Hotline: 406-222-8154 Office: 406-222-5902
Park	Help Center, Inc.	Hotline: 406-586-3333
Petroleum	SAVES, Inc.	Hotline: 406-535-2303
Phillips	Glasgow Victim-Witness Advocate	*Call your local police department for more information.
Pondera	Hi-Lines Help for Abused Spouses	Hotline: 800-219-7336 Office: 406-278-3342
Pondera	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Powder River	Custer Network Against Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault (CNADA)	Hotline: 1-888-799-0542
Powell	Safe Space	Hotline: 406-782-8511 Office: 406-782-9807
Powell	First Step Resource Center	Office: 406-329-5776
Prairie	Dawson County Domestic Violence Program	Hotline: 406-989-1318 Office: 406-377-6477
Ravalli	Supporters of Abuse Free Environments (SAFE)	Hotline: 406-363-4600 Office: 406-363-2793
Ravalli	YWCA of Missoula	Hotline: 406-542-1944 Office: 406-543-6691
Richland	Richland County Coalition Against Domestic Violence	Office: 406-433-7421
Roosevelt	Northeast Montana Victim/Witness Advocate Program	Office: 406-653-2999
Rosebud	Custer Network Against Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault (CNADA)	Hotline: 1-888-799-0542
Rosebud	YWCA Billings	Hotline: 406-245-4472 Office: 406-252-6303
Sanders	First Step Resource Center	Office: 406-329-5776
Sanders	YWCA of Missoula	Hotline: 406-542-1944 Office: 406-543-6691
Sanders	Sanders County Coalition For Families (SCCFF)	Hotline: 406-827-3745 Office: 406-827-3218
Sheridan	Glasgow Victim-Witness Advocate	*Call your local police department for more information.
Silver Bow	Safe Space	Hotline: 406-782-8511 Office: 406-782-9807
Stillwater	YWCA Billings	Hotline: 406-245-4472 Office: 406-252-6303
Stillwater	Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS)	Hotline: 406-425-2222
Sweet Grass	Abuse Support & Prevention Education Network (ASPEN)	Hotline: 406-222-8154 Office: 406-222-5902
Teton	Hi-Lines Help for Abused Spouses	Hotline: 800-219-7336 Office: 406-278-3342
Teton	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Toole	Hi-Lines Help for Abused Spouses	Hotline: 800-219-7336 Office: 406-278-3342
Toole	YWCA of Great Falls	Hotline: 406-453-1018 Office: 406-452-1315
Treasure	Custer Network Against Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault (CNADA)	Hotline: 1-888-799-0542
Valley	Glasgow Victim-Witness Advocate	*Call your local police department for more information.
Wheatland	SAVES, Inc.	Hotline: 406-535-2303
Wibaux	Dawson County Domestic Violence Program	Hotline: 406-989-1318 Office: 406-377-6477
Yellowstone	YWCA Billings	Hotline: 406-245-4472 Office: 406-252-6303
Sources:	Montana Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, Community Support Center

Montana Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence

The Montana Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence (MCADSV) is a collaborative network of individuals and organizations. The group is working to end domestic and sexual violence in the state of Montana.

Montana Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Services

The Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Services Program (SVPVS) is run by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The SVPVS, “implements prevention efforts that reduce risk factors and increase protective factors associated with sexual violence perpetration and victimization.” For more information about the SVPVS, contact the program specialist, Patrick Paradis, by calling 406-444-3628.

Montana Clergy Abuse FAQs

How Do I Report Sexual Abuse by a Priest in Montana?

To report any sexual abuse:

Report any case of sexual abuse or sexual assault to your local law enforcement agency. Depending on the circumstances, it may also be advised to seek medical attention promptly.

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

To report sexual abuse of a minor:

Call the Montana Child Abuse Hotline at 1-866-820-5437 to report cases of child sexual abuse or suspected child sexual abuse.

To report sexual abuse to the Diocese of Helena:

Contact the victim’s advocate with any concerns or allegations regarding a case of clergy abuse in the Diocese of Helena.

Helen Beausoleil | Victim’s Advocate
Phone: 406-459-0513
Email Address: victimassistant@diocesehelena.org

To report sexual abuse to the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings:

Contact the diocese about cases of clergy abuse using the contact information below.

Teresa Schmit | Victims Assistance Coordinator
Phone: 406-750-2373
Email Address: victimassistancecoord@gmail.com

Are Clergy Members Required to Report Abuse in Montana?

Yes. Clergy members are required by Montana state law to report suspected child abuse and neglect. This includes suspected child sexual abuse. However, Montana state law also allows certain exemptions for clergy members with regard to reporting alleged abuse.

These exemptions allow clergy members to keep cases of clergy abuse hidden. In doing so, these church officials can protect the reputation of the dioceses and subsequently the reputation of the accused priests. Critics argue these exemptions do not protect victims.

These exemptions do not hinder a victim’s ability to file a lawsuit against an abusive priest or responsible diocese.

Some states, such as Illinois, recently expanded their rules around mandatory reporting and clergy participation to protect victims. There is a chance Montana may take similar legislative action in the future.