Sacramento, Santa Rosa dioceses settle sex abuse cases

Published: 2005-06-30

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CNS) -- The Diocese of Sacramento has agreed to pay $35 million to 33 alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse, diocesan officials announced June 29. The agreement, mediated by a retired Sacramento Superior Court judge, resolves all pending claims against the diocese alleging sexual abuse by priests against children over the past four decades. The same day the Diocese of Santa Rosa announced it had reached a $7.3 million settlement in eight of the nine pending cases against the diocese. The Sacramento and Santa Rosa cases were filed after California enacted a law establishing a one-year window in 2003 during which victims of childhood sexual abuse could file civil suits previously barred by the statute of limitations. About 800 claims against the church were filed statewide. The Sacramento agreement was reached a day before the first case was scheduled to go to trial.

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