The Hindu : International : $100 million for abuse cases

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 06, 2005

International

International

$100 million for abuse cases

LOS ANGELES: A judge unsealed the details of a record $100 million settlement with a Southern California diocese over sex abuse allegations against clergy. Alleged victims sobbed as they spoke publicly about a deal that was nearly two years in the making. Monday's settlement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange marks the single largest clergy abuse settlement to date. The Archdiocese of Boston agreed to pay $85 million to 552 plaintiffs in 2002. ``Let this be what everyone remembers from today: that nothing is more important than the protection of our children and our youth,'' Bishop Tod D. Brown said a news conference following a brief court hearing, sitting alongside the plaintiffs and their lawyers. ``I seek their forgiveness, I hope for reconciliation and I know that they have now begun their healing process.'' Some of the plaintiffs cried while others hugged him. The settlement resolves 90 lawsuits against the diocese that included allegations against 31 priests, 10 lay personnel, one religious brother and two nuns. The earliest allegation dated to 1936; the latest came in 1996. — AP

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