Oakland Diocese, Boston Archdiocese reach clergy abuse settlements

Published: 2004-02-02

OAKLAND, Calif. (CNS) -- The Oakland Diocese has agreed to pay $3 million to a woman sexually assaulted as a child by her pastor, Msgr. George Francis. The Boston Archdiocese announced a settlement for an undisclosed amount with the family of the late Rita Perry, who had two children fathered by a Boston priest, Father James D. Foley. The Oakland settlement with Jennifer Chapin, 31, was reached Jan. 23. It was believed to be the largest single settlement of an abuse case by a California diocese since the clergy abuse crisis broke out two years ago. Diocesan officials said that insurance will likely cover more than two-thirds of the settlement. Chapin said Msgr. Francis, who died in 1998, repeatedly abused her when she was a child at St. Bede Parish in Hayward. She said the abuse, which included rape and ritualistic attacks with religious objects, began when she was 6 years old and continued for four years.

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