IOWA
KCRG
By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter
DUBUQUE, Iowa — The Archdiocese of Dubuque has agreed to pay $5.2 million to 26 people claiming clergy sex abuse.
The settlement was announced Wednesday.
The Dubuque Archdiocese also settled with 18 victims in 2008 for $4.7 million. The Archdiocese paid nine victims $2.6 million in 2007. 20 victims were part of a $5 million settlement in 2006. The church also settled with 10 victims individually.
As director of The Iowa “Survivor’s network of those Abused by Priests”, Steve Theisen says no amount of money can fix the damage abusers cause their victims. “A lot of the folks haven’t been able to reach their potential because of the abuse,” said Theisen.
As a sexual abuse survivor himself, Theisen says what really helps victims recover is therapy. “The nightmares went away. The wrong thinking, some of that is still there. But a lot of the anxiety and depression went away. ”
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