By Alex Roth
Union-Tribune
September 8, 2007
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070908-9999-1n8catholics.html
San Diego-area Catholics had a wide variety of opinions – virtually all of them strong ones – about yesterday's news that the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego had agreed to settle 144 claims of sexual abuse for $198.1 million.
Some were angry at the plaintiff's attorneys, others at the church hierarchy. Some worried that the settlement might ruin the church financially. Some expressed sympathy for the victims. Several were glad the sordid spectacle was finally over.
"I think it's a just decision," said Ed Mansfield, 81, a retired Serra Mesa engineer. "I think it's really sad we had to go to this extent to get the church to stand up to its responsibility. If I were a survivor (of sexual abuse), I would want a billion dollars."
Chris Heitman, 47, of Carlsbad had a very different reaction. Sure, the victims who were sexually abused by priests deserve sympathy, he said. But "they should have said something 30 years ago when it happened," he said. "Let's face it. It's about money at this point, it really is."
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| One San Diegan hoped the church will be more "transparent." Photo by Nadia Borowski Scott |
He was particularly appalled, he said, that 30 percent or more of the money would be going into the pockets of the plaintiffs' attorneys.
Like Heitman, several people said they found the news especially depressing because it means that millions of dollars can't be spent on other things, such as improvements to the Catholic schools in San Diego County, many of which need repairs.
Some of this money, they said, was raised through decades of silent auctions, golf tournaments and private contributions.
"My kids are the victims," said Dan Hughes, 40, of Oceanside, whose 6-year-old son goes to Catholic school in Carlsbad and whose 4-year-old son will be enrolled next year. He said the settlement will mean the school almost certainly won't get the new classrooms it desperately needs.
Although Hughes, an executive with a hospital maintenance company, expressed sympathy for the victims, he said he didn't think a lawsuit was the proper way to address the matter.
"It was a criminal problem," he said. "The priests and bishops that allowed it to happen ought to be put in jail."
Other San Diegans, however, believe that substantial monetary compensation is the least the San Diego diocese can do.
"The church had the responsibility to protect these people and blew it," said Judy Bethel, 67, a University City artist.
She said news of the settlement was "a relief after five years and it's also an answer to prayer." As a result of the litigation, she hopes the church will become more "transparent" and more responsive to the needs of its parishioners.
"The priest is called to act as a spiritual servant," Bethel said. "The way they have been acting is not as a spiritual servant but as any company CEO."
Most of those interviewed said they were glad to see the church take steps to ensure that such widespread sexual abuse will not happen again.
Among other steps, the San Diego diocese has created a board to monitor the behavior of priests and review parishioners' complaints of possible misconduct. M. Gayle Askren, 69, a Coronado lawyer who serves on the board, said yesterday's settlement was a welcome development.
"Everybody's relieved this is coming to an end," he said.
Alex Roth: (619) 542-4558; alex.roth@uniontrib.com
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