Church to Pay $13M to Settle Another Multiple-Abuse Case
The Roman Catholic Church may be paying out more money to abuse victims. This time, the place is Nova Scotia, where the church will pay $13 million (Canadian--roughly 1-to-1 for U.S. dollars) to up to 70 people.
The Canadian Press highlights one brother of a suicide, who allegedly killed himself after being abused by a priest. Ronald Martin said he was avenging his brother's death seven years ago.
Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice David MacAdam is hearing lawyers plead for a settlement of more than $13 million. The deal, announced in August, would be for abuse in the Diocese of Antigonishd that occurred since Jan. 1, 1950.
Martin said his brother left a note about the abuse. "At this time I hadn't known about his abuse, and he hadn't known about mine," said the brother, who was also abused by a priest. "But here I was as a victim saying 'I would do this for you, David, and for many others.' "
The suicide note named Hugh Vincent MacDonald, a priest, as the abuser. MacDonald faces charges of multiple sex-related offences in 2003, but died before he could be sentenced.
John McKiggan, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, told the court "he had gone through a protracted and often tough bargaining process on behalf of the plaintiffs with church lawyers," the Canadian Press reported. McKiggan called the deal "just and fair."
The class-action lawsuit includes four other priests, three of whom have been convicted of multiple counts of sex abuse with minors.
Bishop Raymond Lahey of the Antigonish diocese called the agreement the first step in recognizing the alleged abuse of children. He has apologized to "every victim and to their families for the sexual abuse that was inflicted upon those who were instead entitled to the trust and protection of priests."