11-16-2017, 07:22 PM
Child Sex Abuse by Catholic Priests
In the United States, 3,000 civil lawsuits have been filed against the church for child molestation by priests.
Some of these cases have resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements with many claimants. In 1998, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas paid $30.9 million to twelve victims of one priest ($45.4 million in present-day terms). From 2003 to 2009 nine other major settlements, involving over 375 cases with 1551 claimants/victims, resulted in payments of over US$1.1 billion.
The Associated Press estimated the settlements of sex abuse cases from 1950 to 2007 totaled more than $2 billion. Addressing "a flood of abuse claims" five dioceses (Tucson, Arizona; Spokane, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Davenport, Iowa, and San Diego) got bankruptcy protection. Eight Catholic dioceses have declared bankruptcy due to sex abuse cases from 2004 to 2011.
The vast majority of the molestation and rape cases are not brought to light until the victims are grown and able to understand and articulate what happened to them.
Now that the problem is out in the open and more priests are being held accountable by the courts, some authorities believe the sexual assault of children in the Catholic Church has declined dramatically. I hope that's true.
(continued)
In the United States, 3,000 civil lawsuits have been filed against the church for child molestation by priests.
Some of these cases have resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements with many claimants. In 1998, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas paid $30.9 million to twelve victims of one priest ($45.4 million in present-day terms). From 2003 to 2009 nine other major settlements, involving over 375 cases with 1551 claimants/victims, resulted in payments of over US$1.1 billion.
The Associated Press estimated the settlements of sex abuse cases from 1950 to 2007 totaled more than $2 billion. Addressing "a flood of abuse claims" five dioceses (Tucson, Arizona; Spokane, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Davenport, Iowa, and San Diego) got bankruptcy protection. Eight Catholic dioceses have declared bankruptcy due to sex abuse cases from 2004 to 2011.
The vast majority of the molestation and rape cases are not brought to light until the victims are grown and able to understand and articulate what happened to them.
Now that the problem is out in the open and more priests are being held accountable by the courts, some authorities believe the sexual assault of children in the Catholic Church has declined dramatically. I hope that's true.
(continued)