San Diego Diocese announces $198 million settlement

Published: 2007-09-07

SAN DIEGO (CNS) -- The Diocese of San Diego Sept. 7 announced an agreement to pay $198.1 million to settle lawsuits with 144 victims of sexual abuse by priests. The diocese had originally offered $95 million to settle the claims. The plaintiffs sought $200 million. Earlier in the year, the diocese filed for bankruptcy protection hours before a trial was to begin in one of the first lawsuits alleging that the church was responsible for sexual abuse by priests. The judge in the bankruptcy case had recently threatened to throw out the bankruptcy case if the church didn't reach an agreement with the plaintiffs. The settlement is one of the largest in the country. The Los Angeles Archdiocese announced an agreement in July to settle 508 lawsuits for $660 million.

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