COVINGTON (KY)
Cincinnati Enquirer
By Cindy Schroeder
Enquirer staff writer
The record-setting $120 million settlement that the Covington Diocese has tentatively agreed to pay victims of priest sex abuse "is fair and reasonable to the victims and to the diocese," Bishop Roger Foys says.
Foys' assessment of the proposed settlement of the nation's only class-action suit against a Roman Catholic diocese was contained in court papers filed Fridayin Boone Circuit Court.
"Shortly after I became bishop of this diocese in July 2002, I made a commitment to treat victims of sexual abuse with compassion and respect and to address their needs to the (fullest) extent possible," Foys wrote in his affidavit. "I believe that the settlement we have reached is fair and reasonable to the victims and to the diocese. The claims administration process that we have agreed to will also assure that victims' privacy will be protected and that they will not have to endure a (protracted) legal process before their claims are resolved."
Foys asked the court to grant preliminary approval of the settlement and allow victims to be told of resources available to help them.
Last week, Foys said that he had met with more than 70 sex-abuse victims, and he prayed that the settlement would "bring some measure of peace and healing to victims and their loved ones." That prompted Sue Archibald, director of the Linkup, a Louisville-based support group for victims of clergy abuse, to praise Foys for taking that extra step. She said bishops across the country should take note of Foys' "commitment to compassion."
Posted by kshaw at June 8, 2005 07:52 AM