No this is not a lottery winner, though the sum awarded in this case could be compared to those who have won the lottery. Today a record $100 Million
abuse settlement was reached between the Roman Catholic Doicese of Orange County California and 87 alleged victims, and families. At a time when many
turn to faith to understand the stress of human existance the Catholic church is forced to pay record sums of monies to victims of sexual abuse at the
hands of those who were there to but share the word of God. This record settlement overshadows the previous record of $85 Million awarded to 552
victims of clergy abuse in Boston in 2003.
ABCNEWS.com Full Article
LOS ANGELES Dec 3, 2004 � A record-breaking, $100-million clergy sex abuse settlement between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and 87 plaintiffs
brought some measure of relief to long-suffering families Friday, but legal experts differed over whether the blockbuster deal would help resolve a
huge backlog of cases in California.
The agreement, reached late Thursday and expected to be finalized as soon as Monday, surpasses the previous record of $85 million awarded to 552
victims of clergy abuse in Boston in 2003, a participant in settlement negotiations said.
The Associated Press has learned the settlement involving the Orange County Diocese is worth $100 million.
It wasn't clear how much of the settlement insurers would pay and how much the diocese would provide, but church officials said the deal would not
bankrupt the diocese or require the closure of any of its 55 parishes.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
The judge in this case has prohibited lawyers in the case from discussing the amount of the settlement.
However the news of this massive record breaking settlement could not be hidden from the news media.
The sexual abuse of children at the hands of priests within the catholic church is not a new issue. It has been the source of many legal actions some
known some kept hidden for many years.
Is this a part of the strict system within the church that prohibits priests from marrying?
The vow of celibacy is required among all priests. Could this be the problem?
Or do pedophiles join the priesthood because they believe they can have easy access to victims there?
Either way this issue it seems will not be ignored or hidden any longer by the Catholic Church, and it is one that has come to the church at great
cost on many lelvels.
[edit on 3-12-2004 by UM_Gazz]