Archdiocese Paid out $467,500 in Abuse Settlements Last Year, AP, KCUR, August 20, 2008

Archdiocese Paid out $467,500 in Abuse Settlements Last Year

By AP
KCUR

August 20, 2008

http://publicbroadcasting.net/kcur/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1314273

The Archdiocese of St. Louis said it has mediated and settled nine cases of clergy sexual abuse for more $467,500 in the last fiscal year.

Archdiocesan attorney Bernard Huger says the average settlement was $52,000.

Settlements, ranging from $20,000 to $90,000, came from insurance, investments, and the sale of archdiocesan buildings, not from parishes and weekly collections, the archdiocese said.

The archdiocese said the most recent allegation was from 20 years ago, and that all the priests either have been removed from active ministry or have died.

The archdiocese began mediating clergy abuse cases more than four years ago in an attempt to settle them.

Now, Huger said there are fewer pending cases and many fewer being reported.