L.A. Archdiocese Agrees to Pay $60 Million in Abuse Cases, by John Spano, Los Angeles Times, December 1, 2006

L.A. Archdiocese Agrees to Pay $60 Million in Abuse Cases

By John Spano
Los Angeles Times
December 1, 2006

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-ex-priest120106,0,2708723.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony announced this morning that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $60 million to settle 45 claims of clergy sexual abuse.

The settlement is the first by the church and represents 8% of the 562 cases brought by people who claimed the archdiocese failed to protect them from pedophile priests.

Cardinal Mahony announced today the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles will settle 45 claims of clergy sexual abuse. He's pictured in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles last September.
Photo by Ricardo DeAratanha / LAT

It is also the first settlement that Mahony has approved in Los Angeles. A dozen other Catholic institutions across the country have settled with victims of clergy abuse.

"This is very important for us," Mahony said in a telephone interview this morning. "This is a major effort at healing and reconciliation."

Mahony also said that he offered his personal apologies to victims of abuse during weekly meetings this fall.

john.spano@latimes.com