DUBUQUE (IA)
Telegraph Herald
by MARY NEVANS-PEDERSON
On Feb. 21, the Archdiocese of Dubuque announced it will pay $5 million to 20 victims of archdiocesan priests' sexual abuse.
It was the largest single settlement the archdiocese has paid. But it is not the only settlement.
Including the recent settlement, since 1950 the archdiocese has paid nearly $6.7 million to settle lawsuits and claims, for legal fees and for counseling and therapy for victims.
Most of the settlement payments come from reserves in the Dubuque Archdiocesan Protection Program, a self-insurance plan. The 187 parishes of the archdiocese pay into the plan and are protected under it.
Archdiocesan officials said the collective insurance plan has saved parishes thousands of dollars since the era when each parish purchased its own insurance coverage. Officials also say they cannot predict whether insurance premiums will increase because of the settlement.