news
19 March 2008
Nation: Church paid $615 million on abuse claims in 2007
The U.S. Catholic church paid out $615 million in costs related to sexual abuse claims in 2007, even as the number of victims coming forward fell for the third straight year, according to an annual report issued March 7 by the U.S. bishops’ conference.
More than $526 million went to settlements between victims and dioceses and religious orders last year. That’s an increase of 90 percent over 2006 and a new high for the U.S. church.