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	Hartford Diocese Coughs up $750,000 to Settle Abuse Case Journal Inquirer January 28, 2009 http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2009/01/28/connecticut/doc4980541fea026673392092.txt Compiled from news service reports The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford will pay a man who says he was sexually abused by a former Windsor Locks priest $750,000 to settle the case. William Noll of Florida says in his 2005 lawsuit that the Rev. Stephen Foley repeatedly molested him in 1978 while Foley was associate pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Windsor Locks. He said the molestations took place in Foley's car, which he had set up as a cruiser with strobe lights, a siren, and a medallion identifying him as the state police chaplain. As a result of the molestations, Noll, now 45, said he has undergone years of counseling for depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts, and continues to receive counseling. "My client is pleased that he can finally have some closure to this most troubling part of his childhood that has haunted him for over 30 years," Noll's lawyer, Robert I. Reardon Jr., said. "There is great relief in not facing the prospect of a trial and being required to relive these molestations in a court of law. He will be using these funds to obtain necessary mental health care that will assist him in moving forward with his life." The diocese has settled about a dozen sexual abuse cases against Foley, who is still a priest but has been ordered not to perform church duties. Reardon has settled four lawsuits against Foley, with the total settlement exceeding $2.7 million. "The archdiocese is doing everything humanly possible to see to it that history is not repeated," the Rev. John Gatzak, spokesman for the diocese, said. "We are committed to protecting our children and young people and making a contribution to society for other groups and organizations to do what the church is doing to protect children." The diocese has taken efforts in recent years, including issuing a code of conduct for priests and deacons, conducting background checks on those who work with young people, and creating a mandatory training program on how to recognize and report sexual abuse, Gatzak said. Church officials also started a prevention program in schools, he said. The settlement came as a jury trial was scheduled to start in February. 'Honest Abe' Brooklyn boy returns wallet with $500 What would you do if you found a wallet stuffed with $500 in cash? A Brooklyn boy knew exactly what to do. He returned it. Fifth-grader Kemoy Gourzang was walking to school last week when he found a wallet on the sidewalk with at least $500. Instead of pocketing the money, Kemoy took the wallet right to the school principal, who promptly notified the owner. For his reward, Kemoy got $100 from the grateful owner. Lichtenstein, de Kooning up for grabs as school holds fire sale Brandeis University is closing its art museum and selling its collection of modern art to deal with the economic downturn. Trustees voted unanimously Monday to close the Rose Art Museum at the end of the summer and auction the collection that includes works by Willem de Kooning, Jasper Johns, and Roy Lichtenstein. The museum opened in 1961. The space will be used for an arts teaching center. University President Jehuda Reinharz said the decision was difficult but "these are extraordinary times." Colleges around the country are struggling with similar problems.
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