Judge: Diocese Can Pay Pensions of Abuser Priests

WDEL
December 20, 2012

http://www.wdel.com/story.php?id=47895

A federal judge has ruled that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington can make pension or charitable payments to priests who've committed sexual abuse.

The News Journal reports that U.S. District Judge Sue Robinson has struck down a provision of the settlement between the diocese and abuse survivors that prevented such payments. That means the diocese can pay the pensions of abuser priests if it chooses.

The ruling was made in an appeal brought by former priest Kenneth Martin. The diocese filed legal arguments opposing Martin's appeal.

Attrorney Tom Neuberger represented nearly 100 plaintiffs in child sex abuse cases against the diocese. He says the ruling is tainted because no one was representing the interests of abuse victims in the appeal.