Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
The Washington Post reports on a settlement in priest abuse charges against the LA archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church.
Another person with knowledge of the deal placed its value at $660 million, by far the largest payout in the church's sexual abuse scandal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the settlement had not been officially announced.That figure spread over about 500 claims would mean an average payout of a little more than $1.3 million per plaintiff.
Rumor has it that the Church plans to raise the tithe to 11% to pay for the settlement.
Comments
The Cardinal has apparently "apologized." Why isn't he going to prison for child endangerment. Well, even if charges were attempted, Nazinger would have him whisked back to Rome in a second, just like Cardinal Law, who got a cushy new job after his handiwork in protecting child-rapists here in Boston.
Posted by: MAJeff | July 16, 2007 9:30 AM
There is no better expenditure from the Catholic Church than for reparations to the people it has damaged. Unfortunately, the reparations it is forced to pay from legal claim represent a slim fraction of that damage.
Posted by: Russell | July 16, 2007 9:34 AM
I read that the LA Archdiocese own $4 billion in properties. Think about that.
Posted by: Rose Colored Glasses | July 16, 2007 10:27 AM
How the mighty do fall. I wish the day would come when people dispense with this silly clergy garbage once and for all, so that there need not be any more victims.
Posted by: Jacob | July 16, 2007 10:28 AM
The money is all well and good, but how many of these predators clad in ecclesiastical garb are actually going to jail for their abuses? Or for participating in the various and sundry cover-ups? We all know the answer to that question--and it's a perfect example of the reason why such writers as Harris and Hutchins can't get critical enough of the evils of organized religion.
Posted by: gary l. day | July 16, 2007 10:34 AM
The yahoo article that I caught on this had the unfortunate title "LA Church to Pay $600M for Clergy Abuse" which prompted the automatic immediate reaction of "Yea - we'd take 600 mil to abuse clergy"
Posted by: yoshi | July 16, 2007 11:10 AM
They couldn't scrape another $6M in the settlement!? $666 Million would have been a much more fitting award.
Posted by: No One of Consequence | July 16, 2007 12:59 PM
Russell, you said, "There is no better expenditure from the Catholic Church than for reparations to the people it has damaged. Unfortunately, the reparations it is forced to pay from legal claim represent a slim fraction of that damage."
I agree but I would say, "There is no better expenditure from the Catholic Church than for reparations to the people it has damaged. Unfortunately, the reparations it is forced to pay are funded by the faith offerings of those only slightly less damaged."
Grin
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | July 16, 2007 10:48 PM