Oregon Jesuit province makes record sex-abuse settlement
March 25, 2011
The Oregon province of the Society of Jesus has agreed to pay $166 million to victims of sexual abuse by Jesuits in Native American communities of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The settlement is the largest ever made by a religious order.
The payment is part of a bankruptcy settlement for the Oregon Jesuit province. The province had filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009, having already paid about $84 million to settle earlier sex-abuse claims.
Plaintiffs in suits against the Oregon province had argued that the Jesuits knowingly sent “problem priests” to staff the schools they ran for Native American students in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
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Further information:
- Jesuits settle NW abuse claims for $166 million (AP)
- NW Jesuits to pay $166 million to sexual abuse victims (Seattle Times)
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Posted by: dfp3234574 -
Mar. 26, 2011 9:15 AM ET USA
I studied these cases a few years ago. Indeed, it appears that awful abuse was perpetrated. My gripe, however, is with plaintiff attorney John Manly's claim that the Church KNOWINGLY put abusers up there. He says he has evidence, but - again, as someone who has studied these cases and has studied this attorney - I highly doubt it. My two cents ...
