TUCSON (AZ)
Tucson Citizen
ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
The Associated Press
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson officially emerged from bankruptcy Tuesday, exactly a year after sex abuse lawsuits drove it to seek Chapter 11 protection.
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas and Susan Boswell, the diocese's lead lawyer in the bankruptcy proceedings, said the diocese has sent a check for $15.7 million to begin a settlement trust to be used to compensate victims abused by priests.
Kicanas apologized again to all victims "who have been harmed within the household of faith."
The money represents the initial portion of the roughly $22.3 million that the diocese will make available to more than 50 victims under a reorganization plan and settlement agreement approved earlier this summer by Judge James M. Marlar.