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	Sexual Abuse Settlement Leaves Santa Rosa Diocese Mired in Debt Associated Press, carried in San Jose Mercury News September 14, 2007 http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_6896860?nclick_check=1 Santa Rosa, Calif.—The Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa will be deeply in debt after it pays more than $5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by sexual abuse victims. The Santa Rosa diocese owes about $5 million to other dioceses that loaned it money during its near financial collapse under Bishop Patrick Ziemann. The diocese had planned to pay off the debt with more than $5 million it received from the sale of property next to the Cathedral of St. Eugene in Santa Rosa. But most of the proceeds from that sale will now be used to pay to pay $5,020,000 to 10 people who claim they were abused by Sonoma priest Father Xavier Ochoa, who is believed to have fled the country. Current Santa Rosa Diocese Bishop Daniel Walsh said he has "not a clue" how the debt will be paid off. "I leave that in God's hands," said Walsh, who contributed $20,000 of his own money to the settlement.
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