A Wisconsin woman has filed a civil lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, alleging she experienced sexual abuse by her fourth-grade teacher, Kevin Buelow, in 2013.
The lawsuit centers on Buelow’s conduct at St. Matthias Parish School in Milwaukee, but it also raises broader questions about how school and church leaders allegedly responded to earlier concerns. According to the complaint, St. Matthias leaders received warnings about Buelow but did not meaningfully investigate the complaints, notify law enforcement or limit his unsupervised access to children.
A spokesperson for the archdiocese said it would not comment on ongoing litigation. St. Matthias also declined to comment, according to local reporting.
Lawsuit Questions the School’s Response to Reported Concerns
The woman’s lawsuit alleges that school leaders had opportunities to respond to concerns before she experienced abuse. It claims they failed to follow reporting and child-protection procedures established after sexual abuse scandals involving Catholic institutions became widely known in the early 2000s.
The complaint specifically alleges that leaders chose not to adequately investigate reports, report Buelow to law enforcement or prevent him from being alone with students.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s published safeguarding materials currently state that all adults working in its parishes or schools are expected to report suspected physical or sexual abuse of a minor. Its child-protection program also requires training, background checks and adherence to ethical standards for people who regularly work with children.
The existence of those policies does not, by itself, establish what occurred in this case. The lawsuit alleges that relevant policies were not properly followed at St. Matthias.
Buelow Is Serving Prison Sentences in Separate Criminal Cases
Buelow has already been convicted in criminal cases involving students at St. Matthias and Holy Apostles School in New Berlin. Local news organizations describe him as serving a prison sentence of approximately 26 years.
In October 2022, a Waukesha County jury found Buelow guilty of multiple offenses involving fourth-grade students at Holy Apostles. He was sentenced in January 2023 to six and a half years in prison, followed by 10 years of extended supervision.
In March 2024, a Milwaukee County court sentenced Buelow to an additional 20 years in prison for first-degree sexual assault of a child in a case connected to his time at St. Matthias.
Those criminal convictions concern Buelow’s conduct. The new civil lawsuit separately examines whether the archdiocese, school or other institutional leaders may bear responsibility for their alleged handling of warnings and complaints.
Why Institutional Responses to Warning Signs Matter
Children depend on teachers, administrators and other trusted adults to maintain safe boundaries. When concerns arise, such as reports of inappropriate touching, repeated boundary violations or unnecessary one-on-one access, schools need clear processes for documenting and addressing them.
A report does not automatically prove that misconduct occurred. However, following safeguarding procedures can help protect students while ensuring that concerns receive a fair and appropriate response.
Wisconsin law identifies school teachers and administrators among the professionals required to report suspected child abuse under qualifying circumstances. The state expanded mandatory-reporting requirements for school employees before the events alleged in this lawsuit.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee also states that adults in its schools and parishes must follow mandatory-reporting responsibilities. Its policies emphasize training staff to recognize possible abuse and understand where reports should be made.
The new lawsuit may provide greater scrutiny of whether those responsibilities were followed at St. Matthias and whether a different response could have reduced the risk to students.
Survivors Deserve Support Regardless of When They Disclose
Many survivors need significant time before they identify what happened as abuse, tell someone or seek outside assistance. Delayed disclosure does not make an experience less serious or prevent someone from exploring support.
Options may include speaking with a trauma-informed counselor, contacting a survivor-support organization, reporting to law enforcement, making a report to a school or religious institution, or discussing a possible civil claim with an attorney. The survivor remains in control of which steps, if any, feel appropriate.
Helping Survivors provides educational resources and may help impacted individuals understand their legal and personal options. Its survivor-centered approach recognizes that there is no single response that works for everyone.
Get Legal Help After Sexual Abuse at a Religious School
People who experienced sexual abuse at a Catholic school, religious institution or other youth-serving organization may have questions about whether institutional leaders could be held responsible.
Helping Survivors may be able to connect survivors with attorneys experienced in cases involving schools and religious organizations. A legal professional can review the circumstances, explain potential filing deadlines and discuss whether a civil claim may be available against the responsible party.
Contact Helping Survivors today to learn more about your rights and resources.
