Two Roman Catholic Church groups in Delaware have settled for a total
of $102.2 million in in two separate pedophile priest sex abuse
cases involving 39 victims spanning twenty years.
In addition to the
financial settlement, one Church will release the names of twelve
priests involved in the case.
The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales “agreed Thursday to pay $24.8
million to settle lawsuits filed by 39 survivors of priest sex abuse in
Delaware,” according to a report today in the Washington Post.
“As part of the settlement, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales also
agreed for the first time to release the names of 12 of its members
identified as child molesters and to disclose personnel files and
records related to their placement, supervision and handling.”
“The settlement was announced one week
after a federal bankruptcy judge in Wilmington approved the Catholic
Diocese of Wilmington’s bankruptcy reorganization plan, which is based
on a separate $77.4 million settlement with about 150 victims of priest
sex abuse, including 37 of the 39 plaintiffs who also sued the Oblates.”
The website of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales includes this statement:
We Oblates strive to accomplish our mission by the practice of the Spiritual Directory and observance of the Constitutions and Provincial Statutes. We live the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, normally within a common life, based upon Salesian spirituality and fraternal love. We believe in the value of prayer that is both personal and supportive. The right and duty of each Oblate is to utilize his personal talents and charisms for the good of the Church, while supporting and being supported by our Oblate community. As an integral part of the Church, we are called to spread among the People of God, the spirit and doctrine of St. Francis de Sales, as intended by our Founder, Father Brisson.