Jeff Anderson & Associates

10/17/2026

If you experienced clergy sexual abuse connected to the Archdiocese of Chicago, you may have questions about your rights, confidentiality, and whether legal options are still available—even if the abuse happened decades ago.

Our FAQ page offers answers and resources to help you understand your options. You deserve to be heard, supported, and treated with dignity.

Learn more:

Learn about clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago, survivor rights, confidentiality, legal options, and resources for coming forward.

10/15/2026

In this video, attorney Mike Reck discussed how a California teacher is on trial for a second time for the alleged sexual abuse of elementary students. In 2008, three Phillips Edison Elementary students came forward accusing Matthew Shelton of inappropriately touching them. This led to criminal charges. Shelton was eventually acquitted, and later hired by Robert Semple Elementary School.

Now, he’s criminally charged once again for inappropriately touching an additional four students at his new school. Robert Semple Elementary has not yet commented on Shelton’s trial or on their hiring process of Shelton. We believe that the community and the parents of school-aged children should be made aware of prior allegations of abuse by teachers because transparency is essential to creating environments where people are safe, respected, and heard.

10/15/2026

If you were abused by a priest or employee in the Archdiocese of Chicago, you have rights. Learn about your legal rights, access survivor resources, and explore options for accountability. Confidential help is available.

If you were abused by clergy in the Archdiocese of Chicago, learn your legal rights, access survivor resources, and speak confidentially with experienced attorneys.

10/13/2026

Information matters. Assignment histories matter. Survivors' stories matter.

The Catholic Clergy Offender Finder is designed to make publicly available information about accused Catholic clergy easier to search and explore. The nationwide tool includes clergy associated with dioceses, archdioceses, parishes, schools, seminaries, and religious institutions.

Search the database by name, location, diocese, state, city, or assignment year.

Explore the Catholic Clergy Offender Finder:

Search the Catholic Priest Abuse Database by name, diocese, state, or year to find publicly reported clergy abuse allegations, assignments, and locations.

10/12/2026

A new Massachusetts Attorney General investigation details the sexual abuse of nearly 1,000 children across the state’s Catholic dioceses.

The investigation identified:
• 92 accused clergy and 469 abused children in the Diocese of Fall River
• 93 accused clergy and 259 abused children in the Diocese of Springfield
• 90 accused clergy and 216 abused children in the Diocese of Worcester

The report also found that none of the three dioceses consistently followed their own child protection and victim assistance policies.

Read the full story and learn more about the investigation: https://tinyurl.com/53e9yfzh

10/11/2026

Explore the most prolific accused priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago, including accounts of clergy sexual abuse allegations, survivor experiences, institutional responses, criminal convictions, and the ongoing fight for accountability for survivors.

Explore the most prolific accused priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago, including clergy sexual abuse allegations, survivor accounts, church responses, and the ongoing pursuit of accountability and justice for survivors.

10/09/2026

Gaslighting is emotional abuse that causes the victim to question their own sanity, memory, feelings, and knowledge base. Abusers use to skew victims’ sense of reality, causing them to doubt their intuition and increasing the abuser's power.

If you follow any kind of mental health news, you’ve heard the term: “Gaslighting.” A tool of mental manipulation, it’s seen in romantic relationships, the workplace, and anywhere where there is a power dynamic. But what is gaslighting and why is it one of the prized weapons in the sexual pr...

10/07/2026

In this video, Jeff addresses a significant legal update that impacts hundreds of survivors of clergy abuse in the Diocese of Oakland. On Friday of last week, Judge William J. Lafferty denied the Diocese of Oakland’s proposed bankruptcy plan, which was a plan that nearly 97% of survivors rejected.

What does this actually mean, and more importantly, what does this mean for survivors?

Here are some key takeaways from the decision:

No special treatment because the Diocese of Oakland is a church

The Diocese exaggerated the consequences of funding a plan and selling assets

The Diocese is hiding and undervaluing assets

Cemetery properties were given a zero value despite a $47 million value

Ignored the benchmark settlement reached during trial in the Archdiocese of San Francisco in an attempt to pay half as much per claimant as was paid in San Francisco

What it means for survivors:

Judge Lafferty’s ruling is a monumental step in the right direction. Oakland survivor’s voices deserve to be heard. The decision is a step closer to healing, justice, and a measure of closure that is long overdue.

10/07/2026

Survivors of child sexual abuse connected to St. Bede Catholic Church deserve to be heard and supported. Learn about allegations involving the church, access resources for survivors, and explore legal options for those seeking accountability and justice.

Learn about child sexual abuse allegations connected to St. Bede Catholic Church and find confidential support, survivor resources, and legal options.

10/06/2026

One of the most common questions that survivors have when contacting our firm is, "Can I file a sexual abuse claim and remain anonymous?" The answer is usually yes. Survivors can usually file a lawsuit anonymously by filing either as a Jane or a John Doe.

Most survivors of abuse don't tell everyone in their lives about what happened to them. In fact, it's quite common for survivors to wait decades before telling anyone. This means that survivors are often worried that if they file a lawsuit, that people will find out what happened to them. We always prioritize privacy, confidentiality, and compassion with survivors.