By Communications Department - Archdiocese of Miami
Miami – (Oct. 2, 2025) — The Archdiocese of Miami is in the process of responding to a lawsuit involving allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a former priest that occurred over twenty-nine years ago. As always, the Catholic Church’s concerns are for the victims and a prevailing sense of justice and healing.
The individual named in the lawsuit, Neil Doherty, was permanently removed from active ministry within the Archdiocese and the universal Catholic Church in April 2002. Since that time, Doherty has been named in multiple lawsuits. As is the Archdiocese's practice, any allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a priest is immediately reported to the appropriate State Attorney’s Office in Monroe, Miami-Dade, or Broward County.
Following the landmark meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Dallas, Texas in June 2002, the Archdiocese of Miami has implemented significant measures to protect children and vulnerable adults.
The Archdiocese’s policy, Creating and Maintaining a Safe Environment for Children and Vulnerable Adults, requires Level 2 background screenings—conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation—for clergy, employees, teachers, and any volunteer with unsupervised access to children. Fingerprinting is renewed every five years, and the FDLE reports any arrests of clergy or employees to the Archdiocese within 48 hours.
Additionally, all clergy, employees and teachers must complete VIRTUS training and receive monthly continuing education through online bulletins. Children attending Catholic schools or CCD programs within the Archdiocese are provided with age-appropriate instruction through the Teaching Boundary Safety curriculum, covering grades K–12.
Anyone who has been a victim of abuse by Church personnel is encouraged to report it—either by contacting law enforcement, the Archdiocese of Miami’s hotline at 1-866-802-2873, or the Florida Department of Children and Families’ abuse hotline at 1-800-962-2873.
