CHICAGO (IL)
Chicago Tribune
April 20, 2020
By Javonte Anderson
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-catholic-church-camp-abuse-settlement-20200420-46wf43egifcq7hs65omkx36txy-story.html
The Archdiocese of Chicago has agreed to pay a $2.1 million settlement in a lawsuit that alleged a 7-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at a Catholic church camp in 2015, according to a news release from the law firm representing the girl.
The law firm, Romanucci & Blandin, did not name the camp where the abuse occurred, but a spokesman said it happened at a church in suburban Cook County.
The girl, who is now 12, was repeatedly abused by a camp counselor at the church, playground and in a classroom, according to Antonio Romanucci, one of the girl’s attorneys.
The girl told a teacher about what happened, and the teacher notified the girl’s father, according to the release.
“When the father confronted the priest and church leaders, they discouraged the father from calling police, saying the allegations would ruin the girl’s reputation and negatively impact attendance at the church,” Romanucci said in the release.
The archdiocese declined to comment.
The counselor who the girl said abused her had a “suspected history” of mental health concerns, according to the release.
“The church leaders involved had knowledge that this man should not be responsible for young girls, and chose to look the other way,” said Martin Gould, another of the girl’s attorneys.
The settlement comes as the archdiocese is facing financial pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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