Posted on 07/15/2007 10:29:13 PM PDT by chaos_5
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The leader of the largest U.S. Roman Catholic archdiocese apologized on Sunday for what he called a "terrible sin and crime" as the church confirmed it would pay a record $660 million to people who were sexually abused by priests.
Facing trial on Monday over abuse allegations dating as far back as the 1940s, the Archdiocese led by Cardinal Roger Mahony agreed to pay 508 victims the largest-ever group settlement.
"I have come to understand far more deeply that I ever could the impact of this terrible sin and crime that has affected their lives," said Mahony.
"There really is no way to go back and give them that innocence that was taken from them," he said. "Once again, I apologize to anyone who has been offended, who has been abused. It should not have happened, and it will not happen again."
The settlement was the latest chapter in a clergy abuse scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church worldwide, damaging its moral standing and forcing five U.S. diocese to seek bankruptcy protection.
Victims expressed a variety of emotions over the settlement.
"I have a mixed reaction," said Steve Sanchez, 47, one of 12 victims who had been scheduled to go to trial.
"There's a group of victims who have been fighting this publicly and ready to take on the church publicly, probably a handful...," he said. "At the same time there is a large group of victims who did not want to go through with the process, being in the public."
Sanchez, a financial planner, said he and his brother were abused by Los Angeles priest Clinton Hagenbach, who died in 1987.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Here is a man who has fought in court the entire way to get out of dealing with this and only when he can’t fight it anymore, he sends his “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Why should we take him seriously? I feel very sorry for all the people who have donated money to the Church to make a difference in the world and help the poor - and have it now go to cover the sins of abusing priests - priests that the church knew about for years and did nothing about! My heart goes out to the victims, which include the innocent churchgoers as well as those abused. What is this world coming to? I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone...
Money fixes everything...I guess it will pay for all those trips to the shrinks.....
$660 million. That's the impact he's talking about.
Hollow words.
Hitting these bastards in the check book is the only thing that will stop them. Child molesters and the bishops that protect them have a special place in hell.
An accurate description of Mahony's behavior as a bishop.
Why do I continue to think that big chunks of the RCC are nothing but havens for homosexual child abusers?
From the collection plate....
“Boston Catholic Archdiocese facing priest shortage”
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070716/NEWS02/707160339
But since the cardinal represents the one true church all is well. < /sarcasm>
660 million!?!
Should have made it 666 million, just for the sybolism.
660 million!?!
Should have made it 666 million, just for the SYMBOLISM.
Here in Dallas we had one of the first 25 million dollar law suits, paid for the sins of a single priest’s homosexual actions. The Bishop declared all the same things as Mahoney and yet last week a new groug of men stepped forward and said that for the last 7 years this Bishop was covering up for a priest. My question is what makes anyone think that the Bishops are not part of the same homosexual problem and happy to hide it from their flock of unsuspecting Cahtolics?
Huh?!?
How about getting rid of pedophile priests instead of shuffling them around from one unsuspecting parish to another so they can continue to destroy the next generation and further defile the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
"But...?"
I hope this brings out all the victims, and all the sinful perpetrators, and all those who give a pass to pedophiles and liars and thieves.
A round between the eyes...
A fish rots from the head down.
"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." -- John 1:5
Is it too late to get in on this?
"I just didn't know what to do..."
I'd like to find it on YouTube and replay it.
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