MILWAUKEE (WI)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
* 330 Abuse Survivors will share $21 million.
• A $500,000 Therapy Fund will be established for abuse survivors to access therapy and
counseling for as long as they need such assistance.
• Parishes of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will contribute to the Therapy Fund.
• All Archdiocese of Milwaukee parishes, schools and institutions will receive a legal and
binding release protecting them from future lawsuits relating to abuse claims that were
filed or could have been filed in the Chapter 11 proceeding.
• The settlement money will come from various sources, including insurance settlements
of approximately $11 million and voluntary financial arrangements with the Cemetery
Perpetual Care Trust.
• The Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust will lend the archdiocese $3 million; provide $5
million for past cemetery care expenses that had previously not been reimbursed by the
Trust; and contribute $8 million to settle all pending litigation to bring closure to the
Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust issue.
• The Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust was part of the mediation and confirms that it
retains the necessary resources to fulfill its sacred mission of providing perpetual care
for the nine Archdiocese of Milwaukee Catholic cemeteries.
• To date, nearly $12 million has been paid to attorneys and other professionals in the
bankruptcy proceeding. Another $6.5 million in fees have been accrued, but not been
paid. To conclude the proceeding, additional legal fees have been capped at $1.25
million. Any savings on the projected costs to wind up the proceeding will go directly
to the abuse survivors.
• Under the settlement, abuse survivors will receive varying amounts of payments,
overseen and determined by an independent administrator, appointed by the
Bankruptcy Court, who will evaluate the claims and make recommendations to the
Creditors’ Committee for final payment amounts. The proposed claims administrator
also served as the mediator in the successful mediation process.
Key Parts of the Proposed Settlement Between the Archdiocese and Abuse Survivors
• There are four classes of abuse survivors outlined in the Plan:
• Abuse survivors whose claim is against an Archdiocese of Milwaukee priest with a
previous substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. 223 claims fall into this
category.
• Abuse survivors whose claim is against a religious order priest, brother or sister,
or a lay employee, who experienced the abuse at an archdiocesan parish, school or
institution where the abuser was working. 107 claims fall into this category.
• Claimants whose claims are not substantiated or could not be substantiated, or where
abuse occurred by someone at a non-archdiocesan organization will be classified into
an “Unsubstantiated Claims Designated at the Creditors’ Committee’s Election” class.
The Creditors’ Committee chose to set aside a portion of the settlement funds to
permit claimants in this class to receive $2,000 each to settle their claims in exchange
for a release of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and all Archdiocese of Milwaukee
parishes, schools and institutions. 92 claims fall into this category.
• Claimants whose claims were either disallowed or dismissed or claims that are not for
sexual abuse or do not identify the abuser, along with claims filed by individuals who
had previously received a financial settlement from the archdiocese will receive no
payment. 157 claims fall in to this category.
• 579 claims were filed in the proceeding. Nine claims were either withdrawn or were filed
multiple times.
• The archdiocesan offices will remain at the Cousins Center.
• A new lease for the Milwaukee Bucks to use the Cousins Center as its training facility has
been put in place.
• No other legal action against the Faith In Our Future Trust, De Sales Preparatory Seminary
or other Catholic institutions will occur.
• The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Finance Council and College of Consultors endorsed the
settlement.
• The Cemetery Trust will voluntarily withdraw its pending U.S. Supreme Court petition for
Certiorari at an appropriate time.
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