Baltimore, October 5 (RHC)-- In the U.S. of Baltimore, a federal judge has blocked lawsuits against Catholic schools, charities and parishes that are part of insurance plans with the Archdiocese of Baltimore. 

This comes days after the Catholic Church in Baltimore filed for bankruptcy Friday, ahead of Maryland’s new Child Victims Act, which went into effect Sunday and removes the statute of limitations for child sex abuse lawsuits. 

A flood of lawsuits is expected against the Archdiocese.  A report last year found at least 600 children suffered sexual abuse and physical torture by over 150 Baltimore clergy members over decades. 

Dozens of survivors also filed a suit Sunday against the state of Maryland and its agencies for sexual abuse suffered in its juvenile prisons.