NEW MEXICO
Gallup Independent

Published in the Gallup Independent, Gallup, N.M., January 14, 2016

Attorneys in the Diocese of Gallup’s bankruptcy case are currently working out the details of the diocese’s settlement agreement with clergy sex abuse claimants. Part of that agreement will involve providing the claimants a monetary settlement for the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual injuries they suffered after being sexually abused as children. Another part of the agreement will involve non-monetary terms for the diocese to begin implementing.

In many ways, if the non-monetary terms of the settlement are grounded in the principles of truth and transparency, they are potentially more important than the monetary terms. Whether abuse claimants are awarded small or large monetary settlements, the money will eventually be spent. The truth, however, will last forever. Therefore, we hope the attorneys representing the clergy abuse claimants will advocate for all abuse victims and survivors…