Spokane Diocese offers $45.7 million settlement to 75 abuse victims

Published: 2006-02-02

SPOKANE, Wash. (CNS) -- The Spokane Diocese announced Feb. 1 that is offering a $45.7 million settlement to 75 people who claim to have been sexually abused by priests when they were minors. The settlement, awaiting approval from a bankruptcy court and the plaintiffs, "is not the end, but the beginning of the end," according to Spokane Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Skylstad, at a press conference in Spokane, apologized to victims of clergy sexual abuse "for the terrible wrongs that were inflicted upon you in the past." He said he hoped that with the announcement of the proposed settlement "we can together begin to take the first small steps toward reconciliation and forgiveness. I also apologize for the fact that this day has been so long in coming." The bishop also addressed all the Catholics in his diocese, telling them it is "imperative that we resolve this tragic chapter in the history of our church and that we do so now."

Copyright (c) 2006 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .