California Franciscans reach settlement with sex abuse victims

Published: 2006-03-15

LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- The St. Barbara Province of Franciscans has reached a tentative settlement of about $28 million with 25 victims of sexual abuse by Franciscan priests or brothers. News of the agreement was made public March 13. Most of the alleged abuse occurred at St. Anthony's High School Seminary in Santa Barbara, a Franciscan institution that closed in 1987. Some also occurred elsewhere in California, including at Old Mission Santa Barbara, a historic mission church run by the Franciscans. Because the mission is part of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, the archdiocese was also a defendant in some of the cases and is to pay a portion of the settlement. The Franciscan provincial minister, Father Melvin A. Jurisich, told Catholic News Service that the aim of his community throughout the settlement negotiations has been "to do the right thing." He said the financial settlement was "only one part" of the order's efforts to seek healing and reconciliation for people who have suffered abuse from members of the order. He said he has met personally with those plaintiffs who wished to do so -- 14 of the 25 -- and he described those meetings as a "very difficult, very powerful experience."

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