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Nation in brief

Catholics: Sex scandal could cost $2-billion

By wire services
Published July 10, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS - The chairman of the Catholic lay reform group Voice of the Faithful predicted Saturday that the clergy sexual abuse scandal will eventually cost U.S. dioceses $2-billion to $3-billion.

Speaking at the first national meeting of the group in three years, David Castaldi urged leaders of local affiliates to press their bishops for better financial reporting as individual dioceses post large payouts to abuse victims, lawyers and others.

The Associated Press reported last month that the costs to the church so far totaled slightly more than $1-billion for abuse cases that date back decades. The projection by Castaldi indicates that direct costs could rise twice as high.

Boston, where the scandal first erupted more than three years ago before spreading nationwide, reached an $85-million settlement with 552 people in 2003. The Diocese of Orange, Calif., settled 90 abuse claims for $100-million last December, followed by last month's settlement of $120-million by the Diocese of Covington, Ky.

"That record will not last," said Castaldi, who is also a former chancellor and chief financial officer for the Boston Archdiocese.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The first partial government shutdown in Minnesota history ended early Saturday as Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed a temporary spending plan and lawmakers agreed on the outline of a two-year budget.

"I'm pleased to announce agreement has been reached by the legislative leadership to put Minnesota back to work," Pawlenty announced about 2 a.m.

The Legislature overwhelmingly approved the measure to send 8,900 furloughed state employees back to their jobs by restoring funding until Thursday.

Lawmakers now have until Wednesday night to hash out the final details of the two-year budget to avoid a repeat of the July 1 shutdown.

WETMORE, Colo. - Firefighters warned dozens of homeowners to prepare to evacuate Saturday as hot, dry winds spread a wildfire across 2,000 acres of southern Colorado.

The flames had burned to within 100 yards of Greenwood, chasing about 50 families from their homes, 25 miles west of Pueblo. As fire crews stood guard over the small community Saturday, 40 more homes were put on alert.

In all, 14 large wildfires were burning across more than 700,000 acres in eight states Saturday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

FLIGHT TURNED BACK: An Air France flight en route to Chicago was ordered to return to Paris after a passenger's name showed up on a federal no-fly list. Four people were taken off the plane, the flight's captain, Dominique Mure, told the Chicago Tribune.

[Last modified July 9, 2005, 23:35:17]