June 04, 2005

The Church's penance

COVINGTON (KY)
Cincinnati Post

The Diocese of Covington learned its penance Friday for 50 years of sin.

The Catholic church agreed to set aside $120 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in Boone County alleging hundreds of children and teen-agers were sexually abused by priests, and that church officials covered up the abuse.

It's a shocking number, and the largest to date in the scandal affecting dioceses nationwide.

There are many ways to interpret the settlement: The church got what it deserved, some say. Others say the involvement of class-action specialist Stan Chesley simply jacked up the price, making this case more about greed than healing.

But no matter what your opinion or stake in the settlement, Friday's announcement has staggering implications.

Posted by kshaw at June 4, 2005 04:26 AM