Janci, Peter B.2022-10-132022-10-132020Janci, P. B. (2020). Helping# ChurchToo Abuse Victims Hold Religious Entities Accountable in Civil Cases. Liberty University Law Review, 14(2), 4.https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1287&context=lu_law_reviewhttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/5573Part I of this article will discuss the important and unique intangible and tangible benefits that survivors obtain through civil actions against religious institutions. As discussed therein, utilizing the tool of civil justice against large religious denominations, confederations, and conferences—i.e., the entities with the most influence and resources to effect organization-wide change—enforces institutional integrity, encourages important reforms, and increases public trust and confidence in such institutions.10 Perhaps most importantly, the tool of civil justice creates powerful incentives to increase the safety of children entrusted to the care of religious institutions now and in the future. Part II of this article will address the legal theories and approaches that survivors and their advocates can use to reach religious institutions through civil lawsuits. As discussed in that section, options include taking a broader view of traditional torts (such as negligence and fraud), as well as pushing for expansions of tort remedies that have thus far only been available in a small minority of states (such as vicarious liability of employing organizations for the sexual abuse committed by their agents). Finally, Part III of this article will briefly discuss whether a viable alternative exists that religious organizations could employ to avoid civil litigation entirely.en-USchild sexual abuseclergy abusereligious institutionslawrestitutionaccountabilitycivil casesArticle