Released last April, the expansive report documented abuse of more than 600 children and young adults by 156 clergy and other officials in the Baltimore diocese dating to the 1940s. The result of a four-year investigation, it also detailed the church’s efforts to cover up abuse.

A deluge of lawsuits flooded Maryland court dockets once the Child Victims Act took effect Oct. 1, with complaints targeting schools, churches and correctional facilities for abuse allegedly committed by teachers, priests and guards. The archdiocese’s bankruptcy filing, however, meant any lawsuits against the church had to be filed as claims in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Baltimore.

Teresa Lancaster, an attorney who survived abuse in the Baltimore diocese and now advocates for other victims, called Monday’s testimony “momentous” after court.

“We’ve all been living for our day in court,” Lancaster told reporters after testifying about the torment she endured. “And we all would have had our day if we had been able to sue in civil court. When the church filed for bankruptcy, they just pulled the rug out.”

A committee of seven survivors, tasked with representing the rest in the interests of all victims in the bankruptcy process, last month raised the prospect of having survivors give statements in court.

Lawyers for the committee said such testimony would add humanity to the technical and otherwise money-oriented proceedings. The request earned the blessing of archdiocese attorneys, who promised Lori would attend. Harner eventually approved, scheduling two hearings exclusively for survivor statements. The next is May 20.

In court Monday, Committee Chair Paul Jan Zdunek thanked Harner for giving survivors the opportunity to speak before addressing Lori.

“Archbishop Lori, our worlds have come together in this moment because of a disregard — by many — of the precious lives of children. Children who once had carefree lives filled with the joy of innocence,” Zdunek said. “Today, however, those same innocents continue to be burdened with a demon that has been gnawing away at their core ever since they fell victim to the sexual perversions of their predators — predators who were at one time their Caretakers in Christ.”

“A number of those innocents are here today,” he continued, “to share their stories, so that we may all fully understand and never, ever forget the real reason of why we find ourselves in court navigating this case.”

Another abuse survivor who did not identify herself in court said it took her decades to be able to realize that she was innocent.

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