South Carolina Catholic diocese agrees to settle clergy abuse claims for $12 million News
South Carolina Catholic diocese agrees to settle clergy abuse claims for $12 million

[JURIST] The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston South Carolina [diocesan website] has agreed [press release, PDF] to set aside $12 million to compensate victims and relatives of victims of clergy sex abuse [JURIST news archive] going back before 1980, according to a statement released by the diocese Friday. A judge has initially approved the terms of the settlement. No mention was made of how many potential claims of sex abuse were addressed under the settlement terms, but the statement did say that specific claims against the sum would be settled by arbitration.

Earlier this month the Catholic Diocese of Spokane Washington agreed to settle molestation claims against priests for $48 million [JURIST report] as part of a Chapter 11 reorganization plan. AP has more.