Five child sex abuse survivors are seeking compensation from the Diocese of Middlesborough over abuse at a Catholic school dating back to the 1970s.
Over 200 men claim they were abused at the St Williams' Children Home in Yorkshire between 1971 and 1991 by the former principal James Carragher and chaplain Anthony McCallen.
McCallen was found guilty on 11 counts of sexual abuse in December 2015 and is serving a 15-year sentence. Carragher was found guilty of 21 indecent assaults and three serious sex offences. He is serving nine years in prison.
The care home, which provided education and board for "troubled" teenage boys, was run by the De La Salle brothers and was closed in 1992.
The Middlesborough Diocese released a statement prior to the start of today's trial in which it said: "The Diocese of Middlesbrough condemns unreservedly any action which causes harm or distress to others. Abusive behaviour has absolutely no place in the Catholic Church, or anywhere in society, and is against everything we stand for.
"These offences are historic and relate to individuals who have not been associated with the Diocese for some time, but they are a matter of profound regret, for which we apologise.
"We have in place robust safeguarding policies and procedures, overseen by a strong safeguarding team and in line with the comprehensive national safeguarding policies of the Catholic Church, to ensure all our parishioners, particularly children, young people and vulnerable adults, are as safe as possible."
The civil case at the High Court in Leeds is expected to last for three weeks.