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	New Suits Filed; Church Works on Financial Strategy Boston.com May 1, 2006 http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2006/05/01/ new_suits_filed_church_works_on_financial_strategy/ BURLINGTON, Vt. --Facing 20 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of minors by priests, Vermont's Roman Catholic Diocese is working on a financial strategy that could include selling some properties. Five new lawsuits have been filed since the church settled one brought by Michael Gay of South Burlington earlier this month for $965,000. Lawyers for the church and for plaintiffs were in Chittenden Superior Court on Monday, talking about planning what could be as many as 20 trials. Church officials including Bishop Salvatore Matano, meanwhile, were meeting with financial advisers. Diocesan officials would not comment about how the diocese would pay for settlements. But court documents say the church has about 60 properties with potential sale values of at least $20 million. Among them are the diocesan headquarters overlooking Lake Champlain in Burlington, as well as a cathedral downtown. The diocese also could close some of its schools.
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