Abuse settlements reached; court rules on priest files

Published: 2004-09-10

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Three U.S. dioceses reached a new phase in clergy sexual abuse settlements recently and a fourth said it would appeal a judge's order to turn over some priest personnel files. In the Cincinnati Archdiocese 134 sexual abuse claimants signed up by the Sept. 1 deadline to seek independently mediated settlement of their claims under a $3 million fund the archdiocese has set aside for that purpose. The Diocese of Springfield, Mass., delivered checks to 46 abuse claimants Aug. 31, completing the main element of a $7 million settlement reached in July. In agreements announced Aug. 25, the St. Louis Archdiocese settled 18 of 21 sexual abuse lawsuits under mediation. The settlements totaled $2,036,800. In California, an attorney for the Los Angeles Archdiocese said the archdiocese would appeal a Sept. 8 decision by Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Nuss ordering the archdiocese to turn over 80 pages of personnel files on two priests accused of sexual abuse of minors who are being investigated by a grand jury for possible criminal charges.

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