From the ArcaMax Publishing, Religion & Spirituality Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/religionandspirituality/s-372658-764548
A $5.5 million settlement of 18 sexual abuse cases of young
parisioners by priests has been announced by the Catholic Archdiocese
of Denver.
The cases against three now deceased priests occurred between 1954 and
1981, The Denver Post reported Wednesday. Since August 2005, the
archdiocese has settled out of court 36 lawsuits and seven other
claims totaling about $8.3 million.
"We cannot undo the sins and failures of the past or the suffering
they have caused," Archbishop Charles Chaput said at a Tuesday news
conference. "I would like to express the sadness of all of us in the
church that this happened."
But several of the victims of priests suggested the archdiocese
covered up for abusers for years, allowing the actions to continue
even when youths came forward.
"Going to the archdiocese was extremely scary," said Brandon Trask,
52. "I asked them, 'What did you know, when did you know it and what
did you do about it?' Their answer was: 'We can't tell, we can't tell,
we can't tell.' "