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	Antigonish Diocese Raises $6m for Abuse Payment CBC News June 1, 2010 http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/06/01/ns-antigonish-diocese-abuse-cash.html The diocese of Antigonish has collected nearly $6 million from parishes in its first step to pay for an $18.5-million sexual abuse settlement. "That is pretty close to what we expected," said Father Paul Abbass, spokesman for the Roman Catholic diocese. Abbass said all 90 parishes on Cape Breton Island and Nova Scotia's eastern mainland handed over cash and investments. Now the diocese plans to sell between 400 and 500 non-essential properties to raise another $12.5 million to make up the difference. Abbass expects this next phase will be more difficult for parishioners because it means giving up land and buildings. "This, I think, people will be naturally even more so attached to," he said. The diocese plans to start telling parishes later this month which properties will be sold. This could include community halls, religious retreats and vacant land, but not churches and rectories currently in use. The diocese needs to raise about $18.5 million to cover a $15-million settlement reached last August with victims of sexual abuse from the 1950s to 2009, in addition to $3 million for claims by six other people.
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