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LA Church 'in record abuse deal' LA Church 'agrees abuse pay deal'
(about 6 hours later)
The Catholic Church in Los Angeles has reached a financial deal with more than 500 people alleging sexual abuse by priests, the plaintiffs' lawyer says. More than 500 people allegedly abused by Los Angeles Catholic priests are to receive a record-breaking compensation pay-out, their main lawyer says.
The deal, said to be for $660m (£324m), has yet to be approved by a judge. The deal, which a judge must approve, is reported to be worth $660m (£324m).
It would be the biggest compensation payment the Church has made since the sexual abuse scandal exploded into public view in 2002. With the alleged abuse dating back to the 1940s, lawyer Ray Boucher said it was payment of a long overdue debt.
It would take the total paid out by US dioceses to $2bn since 1950, with LA paying about one quarter of that. It would be the largest payment by the US Church since the abuse became public in 2002 and just before a series of trials into sex claims were to begin.
The settlement figures have not yet been officially announced. The agreement, if approved, will settle all 15 upcoming paedophilia trials against Los Angeles archdiocese and avoids the threat of Cardinal Roger Mahony, the current Archbishop of Los Angeles, being forced to testify about how the Church dealt with abuses spanning the 1940s to 1990s.
The diocese is expected to sell property to raise the compensation funds. Los Angeles diocese records released in the past revealed that for decades priests accused of child sex abuse were simply moved to new assignments or provided with therapy, Church leaders believing that they could be rehabilitated.
Ray Boucher, lead plaintiff lawyer in the case, said the settlement also called for the release of confidential priest personnel files. Plaintiff Steven Sanchez had been preparing for trialThis latest settlement calls for the release of confidential priest personnel files, Mr Boucher said.
"Transparency is a critical part of this and of all resolutions," he said."Transparency is a critical part of this and of all resolutions," he said.
Healing process
Steven Sanchez, a plaintiff in the case, said he was both relieved and disappointed by the outcome.Steven Sanchez, a plaintiff in the case, said he was both relieved and disappointed by the outcome.
"I was really emotionally ready to take on the archdiocese in court in less than 48 hours, but I'm glad all victims are going to be compensated," he said."I was really emotionally ready to take on the archdiocese in court in less than 48 hours, but I'm glad all victims are going to be compensated," he said.
"I hope all victims will find some type of healing in this process.""I hope all victims will find some type of healing in this process."
Insurance claim
The deal is expected to be officially announced in a joint statement to be released by the plaintiffs and archdiocese later on Sunday, and a news conference will take place on Monday.
The reported figure of $660m dwarfs the $157m settlement paid out by the diocese of Boston following a child sex scandal which became public in 2002.
Cardinal Mahony has said property will be sold to raise the fundsThe Los Angeles payment, which amounts to an average of $1.3m for each plaintiff, takes the total paid out by US dioceses to $2bn since 1950, with Los Angeles paying about one quarter of that.
Los Angeles is the country's most populous Catholic diocese, serving more than three million parishioners, but the scandal has brought the archdiocese close to financial ruin.
According to Church lawyers the diocese is likely to pay $250m in cash, the rest of the sum being covered by insurance and payments by religious orders.
Earlier this year, Cardinal Mahoney told parishioners in an open letter that the Church would sell its 12-storey administrative building and was considering the sale of about 50 other non-essential properties to raise funds.
The abuse has also severely dented confidence in the Church and its leaders, the BBC's Peter Bowes in Los Angeles says.
'Stolen childhood'
David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said while it was the largest settlement by the Church, money was not the key objective for victims.David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said while it was the largest settlement by the Church, money was not the key objective for victims.
"It is never about the money. Victims want healing, prevention, closing, accountability," he said. "No settlement, no amount of money, can restore the shattered trust and the stolen childhoods and the betrayed faith of people who were wounded by abusive priests and by complicit bishops," he said.
The diocese has not yet commented on the settlement but said Church officials planned to be in court on Monday morning. "But, having said that, certainly this represents a tremendous achievement by these brave survivors, who somehow found the strength to come forward, report the crimes, get legal help, expose the predators and ultimately endure a pretty long, gruelling legal process."
In a recent letter to parishioners, Cardinal Roger Mahony said the Church would be selling an administrative building and was considering the sale of about 50 other Church properties to raise funds for settlement.
Since 2002 nearly 1,000 people have filed such claims against the Roman Catholic Church in California alone.Since 2002 nearly 1,000 people have filed such claims against the Roman Catholic Church in California alone.
In February 2004, a report commissioned by the Church said more than 4,000 Roman Catholic priests in the US had faced sexual abuse allegations in the last 50 years.In February 2004, a report commissioned by the Church said more than 4,000 Roman Catholic priests in the US had faced sexual abuse allegations in the last 50 years.