May 02, 2006

New suits filed; church works on financial strategy

BURLINGTON (VT)
Boston.com

May 1, 2006

BURLINGTON, Vt. --Facing 20 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of minors by priests, Vermont's Roman Catholic Diocese is working on a financial strategy that could include selling some properties.

Five new lawsuits have been filed since the church settled one brought by Michael Gay of South Burlington earlier this month for $965,000.

Lawyers for the church and for plaintiffs were in Chittenden Superior Court on Monday, talking about planning what could be as many as 20 trials. Church officials including Bishop Salvatore Matano, meanwhile, were meeting with financial advisers.

Posted by kshaw at May 2, 2006 02:06 AM