Alaska and N.Y. courts dismiss abuse lawsuits; claims settled in Iowa

Published: 2006-02-23

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Judges in New York and Alaska have dismissed clergy sex abuse lawsuits because they were filed too late and two Iowa dioceses have reached financial settlements with abuse victims. The Vatican permanently barred an abusive priest in Seattle from ministry and a California jury found a retired Los Angeles priest guilty of child molestation. In Kentucky a prominent Catholic media executive and a judge were named to oversee distribution of $85 million set aside for victims of sexual abuse in the Covington Diocese. The New York and Alaska court decisions were setbacks for victims and victim advocacy groups. But they could serve as further spurs to ongoing efforts by victim groups and plaintiffs' attorneys in several states to seek suspension of the statute of limitations, allowing victims of clerical abuse that occurred decades ago to sue church authorities.

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