Catholic Diocese of Kansas City settles all pending sexual assault claims for $9.95 million

KSHB
October 15, 2014

http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/catholic-diocese-of-kansas-city-settles-all-pending-sexual-assault-claims-for-995-million

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph has settled 30 claims of sexual abuse for $10 million, according to a news release.

The settlement resolves 30 pending claims filed between 2010 and earlier this year alleging abuse by diocesan priests twenty or more years ago.

The Diocese sincerely hopes that this settlement can bring about some closure to those hurt by abuse in the past. The Diocese also prays for a healing which can bring peace to the hearts of all of those hurt by child sexual abuse.

A large portion of this settlement will be covered by insurers with the balance being paid by the Diocese.

In 2008, the Diocese settled 46 pending cases for $10 million. Jack Smith, the diocese's director of communications, said these settlements will take away some missions the church wanted to do.

In a statement to 41 Action News, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said those who sued the diocese were heroes.

Dozens of brave Kansas City men and women who were sexually assaulted as a child by priests have settled their abuse and cover up case against the KC Missouri diocese and its convicted bishop, Robert Finn.

Finn and his aides and their expensive lawyers pulled out all the stops to try and deny Jon David Couzens his day in court. They did the same with these other victims. Time after time, Finn failed. So at the 11th hour, to protect their reputations and careers, Kansas City Catholic officials settled this case and the others as well.

While we are relieved these courageous survivors, especially Jon David, won't have to endure even more mean-spirited legal attacks by Finn and his expensive lawyers, more cover ups by more Catholic officials would have emerged had these cases gone to trial and we're sad that this won't happen.

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We hope this outcome will prod others who have been hurt by KC priests, nuns, deacons, seminarians and other Catholic employees to get help, come forward, expose wrongdoers and protect kids.