PORTLAND (ME)
WMTW
POSTED: 5:44 am EDT August 17, 2005
UPDATED: 6:17 am EDT August 17, 2005
PORTLAND, Maine -- A lawsuit by a Sidney man who claimed he was abused by a priest over a seven-year period starting at age 13 has been settled. Terms of the settlement between Maine's Roman Catholic diocese and Michael Fortin, 34, were not made public, and neither Fortin's lawyers nor the Diocese of Portland would elaborate.
In a brief written statement, Fortin and Bishop Richard Malone said confidentiality was neither required by the diocese nor requested by Fortin. It added, however, that both parties want to put the matter behind them and agreed to let the statement stand without further comment.
The lay Catholic reform group Voice of the Faithful in Maine praised the diocese for coming forward to reach a settlement, calling it a welcome change from legal tactics of the past that added to the suffering of innocent victims and abuse survivors.
Posted by kshaw at August 17, 2005 08:20 AM