US Catholic diocese settles suits

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2004-12-03 02:10pm

The Roman Catholic church in California has settled a lawsuit brought by alleged victims of sexual abuse by clergy members.

The diocese of Orange County has come to an agreement on compensation for 87 plaintiffs after two years of talks.

Although the actual amount was not disclosed, an unnamed source told the Associated Press that the figure exceeds $85m (£44m).

That sum was awarded to over 500 plaintiffs in Boston two years ago.

The settlement is likely to influence the amount that may be paid to thousands of plaintiffs in pending cases in Los Angeles and elsewhere.

Abuse scandal

"I want to take this opportunity to again extend on behalf of the Diocese of Orange and myself a sincere apology, a request for forgiveness, and a heartfelt hope for reconciliation and healing," Bishop Tod D Brown, whose diocese serves more than a million Catholics, said in a statement.

A lawyer for those bringing the case said no amount of money would replace lost childhoods and teenage years.

"But this settlement will give them all the ability and opportunity to conclude their claims and help them move on with their lives," said Ray Boucher.

The decision represents the first group settlement of nearly 850 clergy molestation lawsuits pending against the 10 dioceses and two archdiocese in California.

The largest number of claims are pending against the Los Angeles diocese, with nearly 500 lawsuits.

The child abuse scandals, which surfaced in Boston in January 2002, have threatened the Roman Catholic church in the US and beyond.

Many dioceses have been forced to declare themselves bankrupt because they cannot afford to meet the claims of all those who say they were abused.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4066349.stm

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-12-03 04:06pm

Great, now they have to actually start booting out their pedophiles rather than sending them to different diocese.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-12-03 04:23pm

"But this settlement will give them all the ability and opportunity to conclude their claims and help them move on with their lives," said Ray Boucher.

Yeah, if I'd just been awarded millions of dollars in damages, I'd be moving on with my life too.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-12-03 04:26pm

I don't think any amount of money can undo what the church has done. Damaged goods is damaged goods.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2004-12-03 05:20pm

I read that the US$85M was awarded to the group of 500 ie that they all got less than US$1M. Am I crazy?

Marksist · Post by **Marksist** » 2004-12-05 10:51pm

Does that 85 million come from church money? The money that the church members pay in tithing?

Omega18 · Post by **Omega18** » 2004-12-06 01:03am

Stark wrote:I read that the US$85M was awarded to the group of 500 ie that they all got less than US$1M. Am I crazy?

I think you're either thinking of the Boston Diocese case that has already been settled, or the upcoming Los Angelas Diocese situation. This is the Orange County Diocese that just settled. There are different Diocese all over the country, and they each have their own financial situation and number of cases to deal with that can affect what sort of agreements they may come to with the victims.