HARTFORD (CT)
Scotsman
A US Roman Catholic archdiocese has agreed to pay 22 million dollars (£12.5 million) to 43 people who said they were molested by priests.
The alleged abuse in the Hartford, Connecticut, archdiocese dates back as far as the 1960s and involved 14 priests or retired priests.
Parents tried to bring it to the attention of Archbishop John Francis Whealon in 1983 but were threatened with legal action by the archdiocese, said attorney Jason Tremont, a lawyer for the 43 people.
"By giving victims a voice, we can change the behaviour of the church and finally force the archdiocese to acknowledge responsibility for the past," Tremont said.
A spokesman for the archdiocese, the Rev John Gatzak, said the settlement would be paid for with long-term savings and insurance policies.