Boston Archdiocese Agrees to Largest Settlement In U.S. Church History With Hundreds Of Victims

By JERRY FILTEAU, CNS

Published: September 11, 2003

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Less than six weeks after becoming head of the Boston Archdiocese, Archbishop Sean P. O’Malley has reached the largest financial settlement in U.S. church history with hundreds of victims of sexual abuse by Boston priests.

“This is an important agreement. ... I hope that all the victims will choose to participate,” said Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bishop Gregory and Archbishop O’Malley were in Washington for a meeting of the USCCB Administrative Committee when news of the settlement broke the afternoon of Sept. 9. Archbishop O’Malley was not immediately available for comment.

The settlement—for up to $85 million covering 542 lawsuits—came at the end of several days of intense negotiations in Boston between lawyers for both sides under a mediator, including a long session on Sunday afternoon and evening in which the archbishop personally participated.

It surpassed the $31 million settlement that victims of ex-priest Rudy Kos received from the Dallas Diocese in 1998 and the $25.7 million the Archdiocese of Louisville recently agreed to pay to settle 243 lawsuits.

“Certainly a monetary settlement is only part of the process of healing,” Bishop Gregory said.

“That is why the archdiocese will continue to offer psychological counseling to victims,” he added. The costs of counseling are in addition to the legal settlement, which is to be divided among participating plaintiffs in different amounts to be determined by a mediator, depending on the severity of abuse and other factors.

About 200 of the lawsuits involve claims of rape or sodomy. About 300 involve lesser forms of abuse such as fondling. About 40 of the claims are by parents of alleged victims.

Boston archdiocesan spokesman Father Christopher J. Coyne announced that there would be a 5:30 p.m. press conference Sept. 9 to address details of the settlement.

Right after taking over in Boston Archbishop O’Malley brought in a new lawyer to try to reach a quick settlement with victims.

According to local media reports, on Aug. 8 he made an initial offer of $55 million, then came back with $65 million in response to the plaintiffs’ counteroffer of $90 million to $120 million. The $85 million was described as a final offer, with taking the cases to court as the only alternative.

In earlier stages of negotiations some plaintiffs said they want to go to court anyway and do not plan to participate in the settlement.

Bishop Gregory said the landmark settlement “demonstrates that the church is committed to working out just settlements which seek to meet, to the extent possible, the needs of people who have suffered terribly.”

“These were among the cases that precipitated 20 months of soul searching by the church,” he said. “We are visibly seeking to heal our wounds caused by sexual abuse and moving forward as promised in the Dallas charter of 2002.”