San Diego settles abuse cases for $198 million

SAN DIEGO — The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego has agreed to pay $198 million to 144 alleged victims of sexual abuse by clergy or other church employees, the second-largest such settlement since the abuse crisis exploded five years ago. The settlement follows four years of negotiations and a threat from a U.S. bankruptcy judge to dismiss the diocese’s Chapter 11 claim if a settlement was not reached by Sept. 11.

In announcing the settlement, San Diego Bishop Robert Brom said the diocese would now ask to be released from bankruptcy court. In the wake of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ record-setting $660 million settlement in July, the San Diego agreement brings to more than $2 billion the total amount the U.S. Catholic Church has paid in sexual abuse-related matters since 1950. San Diego will pay about $107 million of the settlement, including $30 million for religious orders. The insurance carrier Catholic Mutual will pay $76 million; the Diocese of San Bernardino, which split from San Diego in 1978, will pay about $15 million.