5 1M New Orleans Archdiocese Sex Abuse Settlement, NECN, October 21, 2009

$5.1M New Orleans Archdiocese Sex Abuse Settlement

NECN
October 21, 2009

http://www.necn.com/Boston/Nation/2009/10/21/51M-New-Orleans-Archdiocese/1256122683.html

[with video]

(NECN/WGNO: New Orleans, La.) - The Catholic Church apologized for sexual abuse over the last 50 years as Archbishop Gregory Aymond announced the number of cases settled and for how much on Tuesday.

The Church admitted that many of the sexual offenses dated back as far as 50 years ago, and most stemmed from incidents occurring at Hope Have and Madonna Manor Orphanage in Marrero.

WGNO interviewed Stacey Brown, a victim since dead, five years ago.

Brown claimed that when he was 10 years old, he went to live at the orphanage and his brothers and lived across the street. Brown said he was abused the entire time he lived at the orphanage.

In a surprise move, Archbishop Aymond announced the diocese settled 20 cases for $5.1 million.

Prior to his arrival, this was something about which the Archdiocese kept quiet.

Archbishop Aymond said the payouts will not impact the operations of the church, and that the funds did not come by way of closures of certain parishes.

WGNO's Glynn Boyd reports.