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Ky. diocese to pay $85M in abuse claims

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A judge approved a settlement of up to $85-million Tuesday between sexual abuse victims and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington, one of the largest deals the church has reached with U.S. parishioners molested by clergy.

The settlement covers 361 victims who claim they were abused over a period of 50 years by priests in a diocese that once included 57 counties across Kentucky. Special Judge John Potter said a desire by the Covington Diocese to make reparations to the victims contributed to the settlement.

"Contrary to what might be the case in other dioceses, the court believes that this professed desire is genuine and played a significant role in the diocese's decision," Potter wrote in his 15-page ruling.

The diocese had originally agreed to pay up to $120-million to abuse victims, saying it would pay out $40-million and its insurance companies would pay up to $80-million, which would have made it the largest church sex abuse settlement in the country.

Attorneys have said the original figure was based on an estimate that 700 to 800 victims would come forward, but only half that number made claims, cutting the need for insurance money.

In a statement, the Diocese of Covington said it is pleased with the settlement, believing that it can "promote healing both for the many victims who were abused and for the Diocese itself."

The diocese, based in Covington just south of Cincinnati, sued its self-insurance plan to force it to contribute its share to the settlement fund. That case settled in January.

The victims will receive varying amounts, based on the severity and duration of the abuse they suffered. Some money will also be set aside to pay for counseling for abuse victims.

Victims will receive awards ranging from $5,000 to $450,000, and those in the highest category of abuse will be eligible to apply to a special fund for extraordinary claims.

Overall, the cost to U.S. dioceses from sexual predators in the priesthood has climbed past $1-billion since 1950, according to tallies by American bishops and an Associated Press review of known settlements. Researchers commissioned by the bishops found more than 11,500 abuse claims against priests over those five decades.

If the total amount needed in Covington exceeds $85-million, the payments will be "ratcheted down" to fit under the $85-million cap, Potter wrote.

The Boone County court has received confidential forms from 382 people saying they were abused by a priest or other employee of the Covington Diocese. Twenty-one of those claims were rejected, but the rest will be able to submit claims.

The class-action settlement comes on top of 58 cases settled by the diocese with other people who had claims of abuse. The diocese paid $10.8-million to settle those cases, Potter wrote.

Sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests has cost the U.S. church more than $1-billion since 1950. Here are some of the largest known payouts to victims since the crisis intensified in 2002 with revelations that a molester priest was moved among parishes in the Boston Archdiocese without alerting parents or police:

Diocese of Orange, Calif., 2004, $100-million for 90 abuse claims.

Diocese of Covington, Ky., 2006, up to $85-million for 361 people.

Archdiocese of Boston, 2003, $85-million for 552 claims.

Diocese of Oakland, Calif., 2005, $56-million to 56 people.

Archdiocese of Louisville, Ky., 2003, $25.7-million to 243 victims.

Diocese of Tucson, Ariz., 2005, agrees to fund a settlement trust worth about $22-million for more than 50 victims as part of a plan to emerge from bankruptcy protection.

Diocese of Providence, R.I., 2002, $13.5-million to settle 36 claims.

[Last modified February 1, 2006, 01:04:14]