Laity, Clergy Asked to Defray Sex Abuse Costs

The San Diego Diocese is turning over every stone to pay its $198.1 million settlement to sexual abuse victims, asking both priests and parishioners to chip in. Clerics are apparently willing—many will donate a month’s salary—but parishioner responses are far less positive, the LA Times reports. One says: "The Vatican can sell a painting or two."

Many say the diocese or Rome should sell property to pony up; others refuse to empathize, saying predators should be jailed. Still, one national survey found 44% of Catholics consider it “acceptable” to fund the settlement. More skeptical were the attorney who fought the diocese and the judge who denied it bankruptcy: Both argue church coffers are more than deep enough. (More priest sex abuse stories.)