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	Ex-Priest's Victims to Get $2M By Steve Lord Courier News [Rockford IL] May 11, 2007 http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/381403,3_1_EL11_A8CAMPOBELLO_S1.article The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford on Thursday announced a $2.2 million settlement with the sexual abuse victims of former priest Mark Campobello. The settlement ends a civil lawsuit filed by the two victims, known as Jane Doe and Jane Roe, against the diocese. It presumably ends the legalities surrounding the abuse of the two girls by Campobello when he was a priest in residence at St. Peter Catholic Church in Geneva and a teacher at Aurora Central Catholic High School. Under terms announced by the diocese, one victim will receive $1.15 million, while the other will receive $1.05 million. The diocese will pay $250,000 to each of the girls, and the rest will be covered by insurance. "The Rockford Diocese reaffirms its pledge and commitment to ensure a safe environment for children and young people in its churches and schools, and restates its special care for and commitment to reaching out to victims of sexual abuse," said a diocese press release. Barbara Blaine, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, said the high amount of the settlement shows the lawsuit brought by the girls, who were 14 and 16 years old at the time of the abuse in 1999 and 2000, "cannot be considered just a nuisance." "These victims are courageous," said Blaine. "If the diocese had done the right thing in the case of Jane Doe, Jane Roe would not have been abused." Campobello was arrested in 2002 and convicted in 2004 in connection with the abuse. He is currently serving an eight-year prison term. He was expelled from the priesthood by the Vatican in 2005 on a petition by Rockford officials. The abuse scandal also cut a swath through the parishioners at St. Peter's Church, many of whom have argued since about the role of the Rev. Joseph Jarmoluk, pastor at St. Peter, in the situation. Thursday, few wanted to comment either way on what effect the settlement will have on the situation at St. Peter's. Joan Benedetto, a parishioner who lives in Batavia and has defended Jarmoluk, said it remains to be seen what will happen. "The person who did this is in jail," she said. "For whatever reason, the diocese is held responsible. We continue to pray for the victims, for their peace, and hope they find some kind of closure." Contact: slord@scn1.com
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