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Timothy Cardinal Dolan Unveils Healing Program for Victims of Sex Abuse in the Catholic Church

By Ryan Sit?, Arry Mcshane
New York Daily News
October 6, 2016

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/timothy-cardinal-dolan-unveils-new-program-sex-abuse-victims-article-1.2819917

Cardinal Timothy Dolan scheduled a Manhattan news conference to provide details on a new program aimed at healing the wounds suffered by sexual abuse victims targeted by Catholic Church clergy. (MARCUS SANTOS)

Scores of abuse victims molested by predatory Catholic priests can collect cash damages set by an independent administrator under a church plan unveiled Thursday.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan announced the new Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program as the Archdiocese of New York attempts to resolve the crippling abuse scandal of the last 40 years.

“One group of members in the church’s family that still has deep scars and awaits fuller healing and reconciliation are victim survivors,” Dolan said. “The wounds of many continue to fester, and they understandably tell us they await more compassion.”

The first 170 pending abuse cases should be reviewed and settled within the next four months, with the IRCP reviewing new allegations in Phase Two of the program starting Feb. 1.

“Most of these cases date 25, 30, 35, 40 years ago,” said Dolan at a news conference in his Midtown office. “They’ve been thoroughly investigated. They’ve been turned over to the police.”

Victims who accept the archdiocese’s settlement forfeit the chance to litigate their cases in court. And critics suggested the Church’s effort was influenced by recent efforts, led by the Daily News, to change the state’s statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases.

“Although this program is progress and it will help some ... clergy abuse represents a small percentage of victims of child sexual abuse,” said sexual abuse survivor Kathryn Robb.

“And let’s be honest — potential defendants don’t offer settlement programs unless they have a lot to lose and hide.”

Dolan recruited some high-profile help for the program, including administrator Kenneth Feinberg, the attorney who oversaw compensation for victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Feinberg, without any cap on his awards, will determine the payout to each victim. The victim will have the opportunity to hear the compensation figure and decide whether to take the money or go in a different direction.

“As with the 9/11 fund, there is a trade-off,” said Feinberg. “If you decide to participate, you are waiving your right to litigate in court.”

Claimants would need to offer proof of their allegations, including contemporaneous conversations with parents, police officers, friends or teachers; the history of the priest’s behavior; and medical or psychiatric records.

Victims can also decide whether they want to keep their allegations and financial settlements private, or go public with their cases. And Feinberg’s decision is not up for appeal.

“The program has complete authority for compensation for victims who come forward,” said Dolan, adding that 30 victims had already reached agreements.

The program is only available in the area covered by the archdiocese — Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island, along with Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties.

Former NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly, joined by U.S. District Court Judge Loretta Preska and child psychiatrist Dr. Jeanette Cueva, will serve on an independent review board created by Dolan.

From left, Kenneth Feinberg, Cardinal Dolan and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announce the independent reconciliation compensation program for abuse victims at Thursday's conference. (MARCUS SANTOS)

The trio of prominent Catholics will investigate allegations on behalf of the church, but cannot overrule any settlements approved by the administrator.

“This is about the victims, the survivors,” Kelly said. “I believe this is a major step forward for the Church in engaging a response to the terrible problem of sex abuse of minors by clergy.”

Between the review board and Feinberg’s investigation, church officials believe they can weed out any bogus claims.

Dolan said the Church had reached out earlier in the week to the estimated 170 people who have already come forward with abuse allegations that involved roughly 40 priests.

The victims were invited to participate “in what we hope they would consider a very promising program,” the cardinal said.

Dolan said the Church intends to take out a long-term loan to cover the compensation costs, avoiding the use of Sunday donations from parishioners to their local churches, schools and charities.

“May I ask your prayers that this outreach might accomplish its goal of helping bring peace and reconciliation to those victims-survivors who have not only experienced the horror of abuse, but have also felt as if they were abandoned by the Church,” Dolan wrote in a letter to his flock of 2.8 million Catholics.

The Dolan proposal was blasted by Barbara Dorris, outreach director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

“It’s too little, too late and designed to mollify lawmakers and others who feel justice should be dispensed by objective parties — like judges and juries,” Dorris said.

“Dolan’s plan does nothing to expose those who have committed or concealed devastating crimes against kids,” she continued. “His goal here is to forestall real legislative reform.”

Earlier this week, protesters greeted the cardinal at an upstate Catholic high school over his opposition to the failed Child Victims Act — which would have removed statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases.

The Catholic Conference, the lobbying arm of the state’s bishops, has long and successfully opposed any changes in the state’s laws.

Presently, child sex abuse victims must file civil lawsuits or criminal charges before age 23.

Proponents of new laws wanted to eliminate the civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes and open a one-year legal window for older victims to bring their cases.

But attempts to enact legislation more favorable to the victims failed repeatedly over the last decade — including earlier this year in the state Legislature.

 

 

 

 

 




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