The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, Del., agreed late Wednesday to settle for $77 million with 146 victims of sexual abuse by clergy members and to release internal church documents about how the church hierarchy handled the allegations of abuse.
The sticking point in the negotiations was not the money, but the documents, according to those involved. The victims insisted that the diocese release the documents uncensored, and make them publicly available on the Internet.
The committee and the diocese finally agreed that an arbitrator would settle disagreements over redactions before making the documents public.
The Wilmington diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2009 in response to the abuse lawsuits, seeking a consolidated settlement. The monetary award is less than the settlements in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Calif., Boston and Covington, Ky., but includes more assurances for the victims that the promised documents will actually be released.
Delaware and California passed laws in recent years that allowed people alleging abuse to file lawsuits after the statute of limitations had expired. The Catholic Church in several other states, including New York, has led the fight against similar “window legislation.”
In Wilmington on Thursday, both sides said they were pleased with the agreement, which included a list of nonmonetary provisions.
The diocese agreed to have priests sign a statement every five years affirming that they are not aware of undisclosed abuse of minors. And the diocese will place plaques in its schools saying that abuse of children “shall not be tolerated.”
Matt Conaty, an abuse victim who served as co-chair of the creditors committee that negotiated on behalf of those abused, said, “We were seeking some measure of monetary justice, but that was secondary to the concrete child protection measures and the transparency.”
Matthias Conaty and Jeff Rose, who say they were abused in the late 1970s and early 1980s, announced the settlement outside the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.
In February, the diocese paid a $77.4 million settlement to 146 victims of sexual abuse, forcing it to declare bankruptcy.
"It's been a painful day, but in some ways it's a day of triumph," Conaty, 43, who wore a chain around his neck with a picture of himself from the period of abuse. "The voice I couldn't use as a little boy was found."
Former Capuchin Daleo told Conaty he loved him and subjected him to "every form of abuse," Conaty said.
No one answered the telephone at Daleo's home in Jersey City, New Jersey. Reached at his home in Pennsylvania, former lay teacher Fleming asked how much money the case was settled for and declined to comment further.
During the news conference Rose, 42, who says Fleming abused him in 1983, felt ill and had to be aided by others.
"It's been pretty emotional," he said. "I've kept it to myself for a long time."
Child abuse accusations have rocked the Catholic Church in the United States since 2002, and the church has paid out some $2 billion in settlements to victims.
In addition to Wilmington, Delaware several other Catholic dioceses have filed for bankruptcy because of sexual abuse claims including Portland, Oregon, Milwaukee, San Diego, Spokane, Washington and Davenport, Iowa.
According to the Survivor Network of those Abused by Priests, an advocacy group, the settlement the Delaware settlement reached on Thursday was reached with institutions that hired and supervised the predators.
The institutions are New Jersey-based Capuchin Franciscan Province of the Sacred Stigmata of St. Francis, St. Edmond's and the order that runs it, the Brothers of the Holy Cross of the Eastern Province of the United States of America Inc.
Conaty, who works in marketing, founded Child Victims Voice, an advocacy organization, and encouraged Delaware legislators to adopt the Child Victim's Act of 2007.
The law eliminated the civil statute of limitations on sex abuse and allows a two-year window to file civil suits for victims for whom the statute of limitations had passed, which include the 14 men.
A similar window to report sexual abuse is being considered in other states, including Pennsylvania, where the Penn State scandal will hopefully influence its passing, Conaty said.
At Penn State, Jerry Sandusky, longtime former assistant to legendary football coach Joe Paterno, has been charged with sexually abusing eight boys over more than a decade. The case forced the firing of Paterno and the university president.
Under this settlement, the Capuchins and Saint Edmond's must release documents outlining the "black-and-white, gory details" of the abuse and any cover-up, Conaty said.
James Green, an attorney for Saint Edmond's, said complaints against Fleming in 1984 led to his termination. Fleming is now a registered sex offender.
Daleo left the school around the same time and there have been no allegations of abuse since then, Green said.
"Two people have ever been complained about in the history of Saint Edmond's -- Daleo and Fleming," Green said in a telephone interview.
"There will be nothing else" in the documents, he added.
Nick Mormando, the newly elected provincial minister for the Capuchins, said by telephone: "I apologize to the victims and families that went through a lot of pain and suffering. I hope this brings peace."
The sticking point in the negotiations was not the money, but the documents, according to those involved. The victims insisted that the diocese release the documents uncensored, and make them publicly available on the Internet.
The committee and the diocese finally agreed that an arbitrator would settle disagreements over redactions before making the documents public.
The Wilmington diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2009 in response to the abuse lawsuits, seeking a consolidated settlement. The monetary award is less than the settlements in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Calif., Boston and Covington, Ky., but includes more assurances for the victims that the promised documents will actually be released.
Delaware and California passed laws in recent years that allowed people alleging abuse to file lawsuits after the statute of limitations had expired. The Catholic Church in several other states, including New York, has led the fight against similar “window legislation.”
In Wilmington on Thursday, both sides said they were pleased with the agreement, which included a list of nonmonetary provisions.
The diocese agreed to have priests sign a statement every five years affirming that they are not aware of undisclosed abuse of minors. And the diocese will place plaques in its schools saying that abuse of children “shall not be tolerated.”
Matt Conaty, an abuse victim who served as co-chair of the creditors committee that negotiated on behalf of those abused, said, “We were seeking some measure of monetary justice, but that was secondary to the concrete child protection measures and the transparency.”
Matthias Conaty and Jeff Rose, who say they were abused in the late 1970s and early 1980s, announced the settlement outside the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.
In February, the diocese paid a $77.4 million settlement to 146 victims of sexual abuse, forcing it to declare bankruptcy.
"It's been a painful day, but in some ways it's a day of triumph," Conaty, 43, who wore a chain around his neck with a picture of himself from the period of abuse. "The voice I couldn't use as a little boy was found."
Former Capuchin Daleo told Conaty he loved him and subjected him to "every form of abuse," Conaty said.
No one answered the telephone at Daleo's home in Jersey City, New Jersey. Reached at his home in Pennsylvania, former lay teacher Fleming asked how much money the case was settled for and declined to comment further.
During the news conference Rose, 42, who says Fleming abused him in 1983, felt ill and had to be aided by others.
"It's been pretty emotional," he said. "I've kept it to myself for a long time."
Child abuse accusations have rocked the Catholic Church in the United States since 2002, and the church has paid out some $2 billion in settlements to victims.
In addition to Wilmington, Delaware several other Catholic dioceses have filed for bankruptcy because of sexual abuse claims including Portland, Oregon, Milwaukee, San Diego, Spokane, Washington and Davenport, Iowa.
According to the Survivor Network of those Abused by Priests, an advocacy group, the settlement the Delaware settlement reached on Thursday was reached with institutions that hired and supervised the predators.
The institutions are New Jersey-based Capuchin Franciscan Province of the Sacred Stigmata of St. Francis, St. Edmond's and the order that runs it, the Brothers of the Holy Cross of the Eastern Province of the United States of America Inc.
Conaty, who works in marketing, founded Child Victims Voice, an advocacy organization, and encouraged Delaware legislators to adopt the Child Victim's Act of 2007.
The law eliminated the civil statute of limitations on sex abuse and allows a two-year window to file civil suits for victims for whom the statute of limitations had passed, which include the 14 men.
A similar window to report sexual abuse is being considered in other states, including Pennsylvania, where the Penn State scandal will hopefully influence its passing, Conaty said.
At Penn State, Jerry Sandusky, longtime former assistant to legendary football coach Joe Paterno, has been charged with sexually abusing eight boys over more than a decade. The case forced the firing of Paterno and the university president.
Under this settlement, the Capuchins and Saint Edmond's must release documents outlining the "black-and-white, gory details" of the abuse and any cover-up, Conaty said.
James Green, an attorney for Saint Edmond's, said complaints against Fleming in 1984 led to his termination. Fleming is now a registered sex offender.
Daleo left the school around the same time and there have been no allegations of abuse since then, Green said.
"Two people have ever been complained about in the history of Saint Edmond's -- Daleo and Fleming," Green said in a telephone interview.
"There will be nothing else" in the documents, he added.
Nick Mormando, the newly elected provincial minister for the Capuchins, said by telephone: "I apologize to the victims and families that went through a lot of pain and suffering. I hope this brings peace."
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