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Timidity
Guest
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego is offering $95 million to settle more than 140 claims of sexual abuse by priests.
According to documents filed Wednesday in the church’s bankruptcy proceedings, the diocese would offer 83 victims who say they were forced to have sex as much as $800,000. Forty-four people who were only touched or forced to masturbate would receive between $176,000 and $575,000. An additional 16 victims who say they were exposed to lesser types of abuse - being asked to pose for photographs or look at sexual material, for example - would receive between $10,000 and $175,000.
“This is outrageous - it’s five steps backward,” said Ray Boucher, the lead plaintiffs’ attorney, who participated in closed settlement negotiations with the diocese. “It’s clear with this plan that they’re throwing down the gauntlet. This will be a long and expensive battle.”
According to documents filed Wednesday in the church’s bankruptcy proceedings, the diocese would offer 83 victims who say they were forced to have sex as much as $800,000. Forty-four people who were only touched or forced to masturbate would receive between $176,000 and $575,000. An additional 16 victims who say they were exposed to lesser types of abuse - being asked to pose for photographs or look at sexual material, for example - would receive between $10,000 and $175,000.
“This is outrageous - it’s five steps backward,” said Ray Boucher, the lead plaintiffs’ attorney, who participated in closed settlement negotiations with the diocese. “It’s clear with this plan that they’re throwing down the gauntlet. This will be a long and expensive battle.”