CV Newsfeed // On July 26, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced it would pay $60 million to settle 45 of more than 500 sexual abuse allegations against priests.
Reuters reported that the settlement concerns lawsuits against 22 priests. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles will cover about $40 million of the costs of settling 45 lawsuits that are nearing resolution, with insurance companies and religious organizations covering the rest.
Ray Boucher, the plaintiffs’ lead attorney, said that while the settlement has been announced, it is not yet finalized and final details will be worked out in the coming weeks.
Cardinal Roger Mahoney, who served as archbishop of Los Angeles from 1985 to 2011, reportedly hoped the reconciliation would allow the victims to move forward in their lives and prayed for their healing.
“Sexual abuse of minors is a sin and a crime and there is no place for child abusers in the priesthood,” Cardinal Mahony said.
Several lawsuits have pointed to Mahoney as being significantly responsible for allowing sexual abuse to continue within the archdiocese by either ignoring credible allegations against priests or simply transferring away those with credible allegations.
Joel Castiques, southwest regional director for Survivors of Priest Abused by Priests Network (SNAP), said he hoped the settlement was “a first step toward healing for victims.”