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$650M Deal to Settle Clergy Abuse Charges

LA archdiocese close to a settlement on more than 500 cases, biggest to date

By Max Brallier,  Newser User

Posted Jul 14, 2007 9:20 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is on the verge of an agreement to spend $650 million to settle more than 500 claims of alleged sex abuse against Roman Catholic clergy, the Los Angeles Times reports. The deal, which would be the largest settlement in the 5-year-old clergy-abuse scandal, comes as the first of the cases is sceduled to go to trial Monday.

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, at the helm of the largest diocese in the country, settled claims that arose since 1985 a year ago,with $60 million going to 45 people. Unlike that deal, this settlement involves dozens of  insurance companies as well as more than 30 Catholic orders. Mahony has been meeting individually with alleged abuse victims.

Cardinal Roger Mahony, center, is assisted by a nun as a parishioner kisses a crucifix during a celebration of the Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Christ in Los Angeles, Friday, April 6, 2007. The Good Friday ceremony was held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels....
Cardinal Roger Mahony, center, is assisted by a nun as a parishioner kisses a crucifix during a celebration of the Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Christ in Los Angeles, Friday, April 6, 2007. The...   (Associated Press)
Cardinal Roger Mahony talks to his parishioners during Ash Wednesday service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, March 1, 2006. After years of legal wrangling, the nation's largest Roman Catholic archdiocese may finally move to settle hundreds of clergy sex abuse claims against it...
Cardinal Roger Mahony talks to his parishioners during Ash Wednesday service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, March 1, 2006. After years of legal wrangling, the nation's largest...   (Associated Press)
Cardinal Roger Mahony makes an appeal during his morning sermon for parishioners to contribute to the effort to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Mahoney, the head of the nation's largest Roman Catholic archdiocese called...
Cardinal Roger Mahony makes an appeal during his morning sermon for parishioners to contribute to the effort to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of...   (Associated Press)
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