Sex abuse claims in the Catholic Church in Alabama

Alabama does not have an open lookback window for historical clergy abuse claims as of February 2026. Alabama's civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse is 6 years after the survivor turns 19 (age 25). No Alabama diocese has filed for bankruptcy as of this date. Survivors should consult an attorney to assess whether any tolling provisions apply to their specific circumstances.

Alabama's Catholic parishes fall under the Archdiocese of Mobile and the Diocese of Birmingham, both of which have faced clergy-abuse allegations spanning decades. Reform remains an active issue: Senate Bill 21, introduced in the 2025 session by Sen. Merika Coleman, would have raised the filing age to 55 and opened a two-year revival window (October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2027), but it stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee and did not become law. Clergy claims are filed in the Alabama Circuit Court for the county where the abuse occurred.

Because deadlines can turn on case-specific facts, survivors should not assume a claim is foreclosed without speaking to an attorney. Confidential, believe-first support is available through RAINN at 1-800-656-4673 and SNAP.