PHILADELPHA (PA)
NBC 10 TV
November 8, 2018
By Dan Stamm
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput announced a reparations fund for those sexually assaulted by Catholic clergy in Philadelphia.
The archdiocese is planning to sell off properties to fund the compensation. The total amount dedicated to payments wasn’t made public.
“Money can’t buy back a wounded person’s wholeness. But what compensation can do is acknowledge the evil done,” Chaput said.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia said Thursday that it would pay financial reparations to victims of clergy sex abuse, even from years ago.
The Independent Reconciliation and Reparations effort will be funded by the archdiocese, which said it was not sure how much money would be required but that the financial commitment was “significant.”
The archdiocese also announced the creation of an independent commission to review church policies, led by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.
Archbishop Charles Chaput made the announcement in his weekly column Thursday. The dioceses of Harrisburg, Scranton and Allentown also announced similar programs Thursday; the Erie Diocese said it would set up a fund, but it didn’t disclose any details.
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