ST. LOUIS (MO)
St. Louis Review
by Joseph Kenny, Review Staff Writer
The Archdiocese of St. Louis settled eight cases of clergy sexual abuse last month in a mediation process.
The settlements to be paid by the archdiocese total $267,500. The cases involved claims against five archdiocesan priests who have been removed from ministry: Romano Ferraro, Michael McGrath, Joseph Lessard, Donald Straub and Robert Yim. The Vatican recently dismissed McGrath, Straub and Yim from the priesthood.
One case involved a religious order priest, Vincentian Father Richard Lause. That claim is being paid by the Vincentians.
Since January 2004, the mediation process has resulted in the settlement of 31 cases at a total of $2,399,300. Approximately $742,000 was recovered from an insurance carrier.
There are nine other cases of clergy abuse of minors — all but one where a lawsuit had been filed — that have yet to be settled. Five of the cases are expected to be part of the mediation process.