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  Bishop Foys to Make Video about Settlement

By Paul A. Long
Cincinnati Post [Covington KY]
June 14, 2005

Bishop Roger Foys plans to make a video to address the recent decision by the Diocese of Covington to settle a class-action lawsuit over priestly sexual abuse for $120 million, his spokesman said.

The content will be similar to that in a letter Foys sent out this past week to Catholics across the diocese in which he explained his reasons for agreeing to the record-shattering settlement.

"Neither you nor I were the cause of this problem, but we are now responsible, a responsibility we must not ignore," Foys wrote.

"We cannot pretend these abominable deeds did not happen; we must not minimize them. Those harmed by these shameful, despicable deeds now need the institutional church and, more importantly, the pastoral church to provide as much comfort and peace as possible. Our hearts must remain open, like Christ's."

Foys planned to write the letter and make the video a few weeks ago, said diocesan spokesman Tim Fitzgerald. It's not in response to any criticism of the agreement, Fitzgerald said.

"The letter was planned all along," he said.

Fitzgerald said once the video is completed, it will be shown at Masses at all churches in the diocese.