Posted on 12/19/2006 6:20:54 PM PST by Paddlefish
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, will pay about $75 million to settle at least 170 claims of sexual abuse by its priests as part of a revised bankruptcy reorganization plan, according to legal documents. The new plan was filed on Monday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Portland. It calls for 143 people who claimed they were abused to receive about $40.7 million.
About $13.75 million will be set aside for 26 people who may either settle or sue the archdiocese and $20 million will cover future sex abuse claims. Insurance companies will pay $51.75 million and the remainder will come from archdiocese holdings and loans. No parish or school property will be used to pay the settlement.
Facing nearly 70 claims of priest sex abuse, the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy protection in July 2004 on the day an abuse lawsuit asking for $135 million in damages was scheduled to go to trial. After two years of legal wrangling in bankruptcy, the two sides agreed to mediation to attempt to settle the claims. The mediation, overseen by U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan and Lane County Circuit Court Judge Lyle Velure, resulted in the two sides settling most of the claims earlier this month.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.monstersandcritics.com ...
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Abominable!
It's interesting that the financial buck stops as the diocese level, otherwise the Vatican would be responsible for the debt and no bankruptcy could be declared. Yet operating responsibility ultimately resides in Rome.
I wonder what the total paid out is for the whole United States. It must be in the billions by now.
A terrible disgrace!
Good News: they can afford it
advice: fire fellatio fathers for f'n fornication
When I think of the poor parishioners who for a lifetime gave their hard earned money to a dysfunctional Church that has abused their trust, I feel sick at heart. Where are you, good priests, to lament this shameful distortion of all you gave your life to?
Can the offending priests or their families be held personally liable? Hit their estates for the loot, not the parishioners who donated their life’s earnings.
AND THAT'S JUST THE FIRST GUY!!!
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