COVINGTON (KY)
Los Angeles Times
By P.J. Huffstutter and Larry B. Stammer, Times Staff Writers
COVINGTON, Ky. — Marking the largest settlement yet in the Roman Catholic Church's sexual abuse crisis, the Covington Diocese said Friday that it had agreed to pay as much as $120 million to alleged victims of child molestation.
The amount, which must be approved by the Boone County Circuit Court, would eclipse a $100-million settlement reached by the Orange County Diocese last year involving 90 victims, and an $85-million settlement reached two years ago with 552 victims by the Boston Archdiocese, where the scandal erupted in 2002.
The announcement came after more than a year of negotiations after the filing of a class-action suit against the Covington Diocese in February 2003 on behalf of more than 100 alleged victims. The suit said the diocese had covered up the abuse over a 50-year period.
"After personally meeting with more than 70 victims, I am painfully aware that no amount of money can compensate for the harm these victims suffered as innocent children," the Most Rev. Roger Foys said in a statement Friday. Foys, who became bishop of the diocese in July 2002, apologized to those who reported abuse and "were not treated with respect and courtesy when they came forth."
Under terms of the settlement, victims would be placed into one of four categories, depending upon the severity of their abuse. Payouts would range from $5,000 to $450,000 per victim, minus lawyer fees.
Posted by kshaw at June 4, 2005 04:15 AM