Guest guest Posted September 11, 2002 Report Share Posted September 11, 2002 www.nytimes.com > Providence Diocese Settles 36 Abuse Suits > > > ROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept. 9 (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence > said today that it had reached a $13.5 million settlement with 36 people > who say members of the clergy molested them as youngsters. > > The settlement covers all but 2 of 38 men and women who sued in the early > 1990's, accusing 11 priests and a nun of abusing them. > > "This is a day long sought that brings to an end the difficult and often > contentious process of litigation that has been painful for most > concerned," Bishop Robert E. Mulvee said in a statement. "I hope that this > action will be helpful to the victims of abuse and bring them in some way > closer to closure and reconciliation with their God, their church, their > families and themselves." > > The diocese said it would seek internal and external financing to cover > the cost of the settlement. > > Earlier this year, lawyers for the plaintiffs asked the diocese for $15 > million immediately and $8 million over four years to settle the cases. > The diocese's finance council rejected that proposal. > > For nearly a decade, the diocese refused to turn over documents in the > case, citing First Amendment rights to religious freedom. > > The Rhode Island courts upheld the church's position until July, when a > Superior Court justice ruled that the First Amendment could not be > construed as a blanket shield. In his ruling, Justice Robert D. Krause > pointed to the American bishops' acknowledgment at their June meeting in > Dallas that the church and its flocks had been hurt by a culture of > secrecy. > > "The church hierarchy became publicly embroiled in a nationwide clamor for > reform and for public disclosure of matters relating to priests who > sexually assault children," Justice Krause wrote. "Insistence upon > disclosure emanated not only from those not associated with the church, > but indeed from bishops within the church as well." > > Lawyers for people who say priests sexually abused them called the ruling > a watershed in one of the longest and hardest-fought lawsuits of its kind. > > Rhode Island is the most Roman Catholic state in the nation, with 624,000 > Catholics out of a population of about one million. It has more than 400 > priests. > > The diocese has $97 million in assets, its December financial statement > shows, but state law allows the bishop to hold an unlimited amount of land > tax-free in his name, with virtually no reporting requirements. > > > The diocese's assets include the Aldrich Mansion in Warwick, used for the > 1998 movie "Meet Joe Black"; several beachfront properties; and land in > several towns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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