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	Judge Finalizes $660 Million Church Abuse Settlement By Tony Castro and Susan Abram LA Daily News July 16, 2007 http://www.dailynews.com/ci_6387959 In a historic day for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and hundreds of sexual-abuse victims, a judge finalized a $660 million settlement this morning. In an emotional scene, victims of the clergy-abuse scandal said they can finally begin finding closure. "$660 million is an admission of guilt and now maybe they can start referring to us not as alleged victims but as victims," said a teary-eyed Steven Sanchez of Glendale as he stepped out of a courtroom at Los Angeles County Superior Court moments after the settlement was finalized by attorneys for both sides. "I can finally start getting on with my life. I'm a lapsed Catholic. I believe in God. I'm just leaving out the middle man." Another victim, Joanne Cardona of Arcadia, was too emotional to go inside the courtroom and waited outside, tearfully talking to friends and reporters. "I'm glad Cardinal (Roger) Mahony made his apology Sunday, but it comes several years after it should have been made," she said, wearing a silver crucifix around her neck. "I've lost all faith in him. I could never trust him again. "I'm still a practicing Catholic. It's because of my upbringing and my faith. That remains unshaken." As part of the agreement, confidential files will be released, although not all at one time. "Hopefully, in the end, all the truth will come out," Sanchez said. Today's agreement came as the first of the 508 cases against the archdiocese were set to go to trial. Outside the courthouse, victims held up three "quilts of shame" featuring pictures of 80 church-abuse victims. Ray Boucher, an attorney for the victims, said the settlement is historic "because it recognizes to the victims what happened to them was wrong." As for Mahony, he said he hopes the cardinal will to meet with the victims "as part of the reconciliation process." "I hope he becomes a leader in the fight against child abuse," he said. Contact: tony.castro@dailynews.com, (818) 713-3761.
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