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	Results of Sex Abuse Lawsuit Settlement Talks Unclear By Michael Fisher The Press-Enterprise [California] February 22, 2007 http://www.pe.com/localnews/religion/stories/PE_News_Local_C_diocese23.1a9b8c0.html Attorneys for the Roman Catholic dioceses of San Bernardino and San Diego spent Thursday afternoon negotiating with plaintiff lawyers in a last-ditch effort to settle more than 145 clergy sexual abuse lawsuits, including allegations against a former Highland priest set for trial next week. Discussions lasted into the evening and it was unclear whether more talks are scheduled, if a deal was struck or an impasse declared. Similar 11th-hour negotiations led the Orange County Diocese to settle 86 clergy abuse lawsuits for $100 million in 2005. "We are parties to the settlement talks, and we continue to pray for a fair and just resolution," the Rev. Howard Lincoln, spokesman for the million-member Diocese of San Bernardino, said Thursday. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Anthony Mohr had ordered the face-to-face talks in his courtroom "to force both sides to do everything possible to resolve the cases prior to the first trial," said Raymond Boucher, an attorney representing hundreds of people who claim to have been molested by priests. "If we are going to get this resolved, now is the time to do it," Boucher said. The area case set for Wednesday involves a Colorado woman who claims she was molested as a teenager in Highland in 1972 by Monsignor Patrick O'Keeffe. The longtime Inland priest returned to his native Ireland in 2002. The Rev. Howard Lincoln, spokesman for the million-member Diocese of San Bernardino, declined to comment Thursday. Rodrigo Valdivia, chancellor of the San Diego Diocese, confirmed by e-mail that representatives for both dioceses participated in Thursday's negotiations. More than 20 lawsuits have been filed targeting 14 Catholic priests or religious brothers who worked in the Inland area since the mid-1950s. At least 17 of those cases name the San Bernardino Diocese and, in many instances, the San Diego Diocese, which managed Catholic parishes in Riverside and San Bernardino counties before the Inland diocese was created in 1978. "We are hopeful that a fair and equitable settlement can be reached," Valdivia wrote. "The Diocese of San Diego, in case that a settlement is not reached, has begun preparing to file a Chapter 11 reorganization petition in bankruptcy court." Declaring bankruptcy would allow the San Diego Diocese to avoid trial in the pending lawsuits. Lawyers have said portions of the cases targeting the San Bernardino Diocese might be allowed to proceed if the San Diego Diocese declares bankruptcy. Lincoln said Thursday the San Bernardino Diocese has not contacted a bankruptcy attorney. He declined further comment. Officials of both dioceses have said the San Diego Diocese agreed to indemnify the San Bernardino Diocese in cases alleging clergy sexual misconduct before 1978. It is unclear how such a deal might be affected if the San Diego Diocese declares bankruptcy.
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