GUAM
Guam Daily Post
Neil Pang | Post News Staff
Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes told the Post during an interview yesterday that he would consider an out-of-court settlement in the child sexual abuse cases currently filed against members of the Catholic Church.
“I can say that we’d be happy to settle, but then again, that’s a legal negotiation,” Byrnes said.
As of yesterday afternoon, 12 cases involving accusations of child sexual abuse against former Guam clergy have been filed in the District Court of Guam. While these 12 cases involve the same plaintiffs as suits filed previously in the local courts, they differ in that each suit now demands a minimum of $5 million in damages.
With the Catholic Church now facing $60 million in potential payouts to alleged victims of child sexual abuse, Byrnes said the church was considering all options, including possible bankruptcy protection.
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