Milwaukee Archdiocese Offers $4 Million to Victims of Sexual Abuse

By By Bianca Facchinei
HNGN
February 12, 2014

http://www.hngn.com/articles/24259/20140212/milwaukee-archdiocese-milwaukee-archdiocese-priest-abuse-catholic-priest-abuse-priest-abuse-statistics.htm

The Milwaukee archdiocese announced on Wednesday that they plan to set aside $4 million to victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy

The Milwaukee Archdiocese has set aside $4 million for victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy, WBAY-TV reported.

In 2011, the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy, claiming the pending sexual abuse cases would leave it in debt they couldn't pay. In the cases, hundreds of people claimed members of the clergy sexually assaulted them, who were then allegedly protected by the church and assigned to new positions without warning parishioners.

On Wednesday, Milwaukee archbishop James Listecki said the bankruptcy plan will be filed later in the day. 

This is not the first time the archdiocese has run into legal battles. In 2006, they paid $16.7 million to 10 victims in California who were abused by two priests while working there. 

Listecki added the archdiocese would provide therapy for the victims as well.

"No amount of money basically is enough to compensate for the loss," he said. "So I think that's first and foremost to realize that." 

The statement also said they are unsure of how exactly the $4 million will be divided among victims, though some of it might be used to sue the former insurers to get them to pay the victims. 

Last year, U.S. District Judge Rudolph T. Randa said the $50 million cemetery trust fund -- which victims hoped to receive payments from -- was off limits and could only be used to care and operate cemeteries.

Contact: facchinei@hngn.com