Another 140 people with sex abuse claims come forward in Boston

Published: 2004-09-16

BOSTON (CNS) -- In the year since the Boston Archdiocese reached its $85 million settlement with more than 550 victims of sexual abuse, another 140 people have come forward in Boston claiming to be victims of clergy sexual abuse. The cases come as no surprise to the archdiocese, according to Father Christopher Coyne, archdiocesan spokesman. "Everyone fully expected that after a global settlement there would be other claims because that's been the pattern in any other legal settlement of that nature," said Father Coyne. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who represents 41 of the new victims, said it would be "naive for anyone to think that the resolution of over 50 years of sexual abuse of minors will culminate in five to six years. These victims have continued to come forward and I believe they will continue to come forward for years to come." According to Father Coyne, the allegations have been coming in steadily since the settlement was reached last September.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .