Portland Archdiocese reports $53 million in sex abuse settlements

Published: 2004-02-24

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- The Portland Archdiocese has agreed to pay $53 million in clergy child sex abuse settlements, said Portland Archbishop John G. Vlazny. Slightly more than half, $27 million, is being paid by insurers, he said. The archdiocese has had to borrow "substantial sums of money," lay off 20 employees and make budget cutbacks to pay its $26 million share of the settlements, the archbishop said in a letter sent to parishes for distribution and posted on the archdiocesan Web site. The settlement figure is among the highest by a U.S. diocese in the wake of the clergy child sex abuse crisis that has rocked the church for the past two years. The financial settlements cover 133 victims.

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