Dubuque Archdiocese settles clergy sex abuse cases for $5.2 million

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque will pay $5.2 million to 26 people who have claimed clergy sex abuse, according to a settlement announced Wednesday.

Archbishop Michael Jackels and Archbishop Emeritus Jerome Hanus apologized in a statement to the victims and their families, and expressed hope that the settlement will be supportive of them.

"They assure all the victims of their prayers for them and their families," said a statement from Sister Carol Hoverman, the communications director for the archdiocese.

The statement said priests who abused are a "disgrace to the vocation and a scandal to the faithful."

"The vast majority of priests are good and holy servants of God and God's people," said the statement.

The cases involve 10 priests and alleged abuse between the 1940s and 1970s, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported (http://bit.ly/14DBlF9 ). None of the accused clergy work as priests today, and most are dead.
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