In Pittsburgh Diocese, Millions in Payments for Clergy Abuse, and a Disputed Fraud Accusation

By Liz Navratil
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
September 2, 2018

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/09/02/Pittsburgh-clergy-abuse-grand-jury-fraud-payments-catholic-church/stories/201809010044

Over the course of 70 years, allegations of rape and sexual abuse levied against clergy members who worked in the Pittsburgh Diocese led to several million dollars in settlements and other bills, according to a review of the grand jury report released earlier this month.

The report lists $5.8 million in payments covering lawsuits, counseling for victims, Catholic school tuition for victims' children and, in at least two cases, "sustenance" payments for priests who had been convicted of indecent assault or corrupting minors. The document does not always clarify whether the payments were covered by the Diocese of Pittsburgh, insurance or other entities. In at least one instance, the money seems to stem from abuse that began before the priest transferred into the Pittsburgh Diocese and continued afterward.

That $5.8 million is almost certainly an undercount. The report lists payments stemming from the actions of 29 clergy members in the Pittsburgh Diocese, but for 10 of them, it did not specify the amount paid out.