LOS ANGELES — The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has reached a landmark $660 million settlement with 508 alleged victims of sexual abuse, the largest such payment thus far in the Roman Catholic Church clergy sexual abuse scandal. The settlement was approved by a California judge July 16 and follows an agreement by the archdiocese last December to pay $60 million to settle 45 abuse claims made against its clergy. Collectively, the scandal has cost the U.S. Catholic Church about $2 billion since 1950.
Archbishop of Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony said funding for the settlement will be shared by the archdiocese, insurance companies, several religious orders and other parties. The archdiocese is expected to pay $250 million of the total settlement, which Mahony said would require the selling of “nonessential properties,” not parish properties or schools.
The settlement was reached July 14, days before the start of a trial in which the cardinal was expected to be required to testify. Mahony said he had met “with many, many victims” individually. He became more determined to settle the cases as he listened to their stories. Mahony said he wishes he could delete the plaintiffs’ years of misery and difficulty and start over when they were young.
Mary Grant, director for the Western region of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the settlement can be a “healthy validation” of victims but the church hierarchy should get no credit for it. “Settlements in no way signify ‘reform’ or ‘change’ by church officials,” said Grant, who is among the plaintiffs. “When bishops settle child sex abuse cases, it is almost always to spare themselves court appearances, tough questions and the risk of perjury charges.”
Share with others: