Judge approves settlement for Catholic clergy abuse victims in Iowa
Pastor Dale Morgan
Judge approves settlement for Catholic clergy abuse victims in Iowa*
AP
DES MOINES, Iowa - A bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved a $37
million settlement between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport and
more than 160 people who say they were sexually abused by its priests.
Judge Lee Jackwig's approval of the diocese's reorganization plan allows
the diocese to start paying the settlement money, which includes
proceeds from the sale of some diocese property.
The reorganization plan outlines terms of the settlement and the
diocese's efforts to prevent future abuse.
"This is not an issue to put behind us," said the Most Rev. Martin Amos,
the diocese's bishop. "We have gone through a learning process that now
promotes transparency over secrecy and justice over the threat of
scandal. The lessons have been difficult to learn."
The diocese filed for bankruptcy in October 2006, saying it did not have
the money to settle the claims stemming from its clergy sexual abuse
scandal. The diocese and creditors reached a settlement in November that
calls for the diocese to pay $17.5 million, with the rest coming from
its insurance carrier, Travelers Cos. of St. Paul, Minn.
The Davenport diocese serves about 105,000 parishioners in 22 counties
in southeastern Iowa.