In 2005 dioceses settled abuse claims for more than $260 million

Published: 2005-12-09

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- During 2005, several U.S. dioceses reached major sex abuse settlements with victims totaling more than $260 million, while two dioceses that declared bankruptcy to address abuse claims became entangled in a legal web over ownership of church property. The third U.S. diocese that declared bankruptcy, the Diocese of Tucson, Ariz., however, settled its cases by establishing a $22.2 million trust fund for victims, and the agreement was approved by a bankruptcy judge. In Philadelphia, a grand jury report accused the archdiocese's previous leaders of covering up clergy child sex abuse, but no charges were filed because of the statute of limitations. Archdiocesan attorneys said that the report was "neither fair nor accurate." Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali issued a pastoral letter urging archdiocesan Catholics to pray for reparation and renewal. An independent audit released Feb. 18 showed that dioceses and Eastern-rite eparchies had made great strides in implementing national child sex abuse prevention policies approved in 2002 by the bishops as the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." The audit was conducted by the U.S. bishops' Office of Child and Youth Protection for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the all-lay National Review Board appointed by the bishops.

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