BishopAccountability.org
	Putting a Price on Innocence By Monica Davis Canyon News July 22, 2007 http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/publish/News_1153/putting_a_price_on_innocence.php The $660 million settlement reached this week, between the Los Angeles Archdiocese and the 508 plaintiffs, is the largest in the history for the Catholic Church. The LA archdiocese, the largest in the US with landholdings estimated to nearly 1,600 and worth $1.4 billion, will pay $250 million; insurance carriers will cover $227 million, leaving several religious orders to pay the remaining $60 million. Despite popular belief, the settlement will not be split evenly, [THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE ---> and grant each victim $1.4 million. Instead, the settlement will be divided amongst the plaintiffs and according to the duration and severity of abuse inflicted by the clergymen. The settlement was reached on the day the case was to go to trial, leaving some victims' let down. Steven Sanchez, a victim who was ready for trial, said "No matter how much money you give me, I can't cash that check and take it somewhere where I'm ten years old again." Financial compensation juxtaposed with memories of sexual abuse is unfortunate, considering how the money will pay for countless victims' therapy. This process of quantifying childhood abuse has forced many victims to relive memories that they have been trying to suppress for adulthood. Furthermore, putting a price on abuse makes them question how much their innocence costs. For some victims, reaching a settlement is a shallow apology for the abuse. Even Cardinal Mahoney's regretful apology is perceived as lacking in sincerity. Mahoney apologized, saying that the victims' "innocence" was taken from them. Mahoney states "The one thing I wish I could give the victims… I cannot." In addition, the negotiations took four years and some victims had passed away before a settlement was reached. Steve Mills, 52, a church parishioner for 25 years, said he was upset that the negotiations took so long and cost the archdiocese so much money that otherwise could have been better spent. "My opinion of the Cardinal has gone down because of all this," Mr. Mills said. "And it seems with everybody I talk to, this is true." The Los Angeles Archdiocese encompasses 4.3 million Catholics; there are as many diverse opinions regarding the settlement as there are neighborhoods in Los Angeles. When speaking with some practicing Catholics in Los Angeles on whether they felt that there was any appropriate compensation, one young man who has attended church for 22 years, said "No amount of money can compensate for sexual abuse, especially at that age." In the same accord, a mother of three, who has been going to St. Mary's for 10 years, says the settlement is not enough compensation. However the settlement has not changed her opinion of priests. "They're human and they make mistakes," she stated. And while she would not trust her 8 year old son with a priest she still respects them. Ultimately, how will the Church react to the settlement? When the Diocese of Spokane, Wash., announced bankruptcy, 82 parishes agreed to pay $10 million of a $48 million settlement. The Spokane Diocese is the smallest and poorest of five nationwide organizations that filed for bankruptcy, and this includes: Davenport, Iowa; San Diego; Tucson, Ariz., whose cases have been settled as well as Portland, Oregon. None of the bankruptcy reorganizations so far have required the dioceses to sell their parishes. But the LA Archdiocese headquarters shall be sold to cover some of the costs of the settlement. Though the LA archdiocese agreed to the biggest payout in history; similar cases in Boston settled for $157 million and in Orange County the Diocese settled 90 victims' claims for $100 million. Ultimately, one wonders if the expenses will ever cease.
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