Little Rock Diocese settles sexual abuse claims for $790,000

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Little Rock Diocese settles sexual abuse claims for $790,000

By HANNAH GRABENSTEIN
June 27, 2019

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Lawyers for five men who claim an Arkansas priest sexually abused them four decades ago say the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock has settled after mediation in what they believe is a first of its kind case for the state.

Attorney Josh Gillispie says Thursday the church agreed to the settlement in May in a case involving John McDaniel, who in 1970 was an associate pastor at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock.

Diocese spokesman Dennis Lee confirms the total settlement amount was for $790,000.

Gillispie says the boys were between 12 and 15 years old and were students at Holy Souls when McDaniel abused them.

In September, the diocese included McDaniel on a since-expanded list of 12 members of the clergy against whom there have been credible or substantiated abuse claims. McDaniel died in 1974.

https://apnews.com/341a889da0794a5f960cfd628ad3412e

[MineralMan]

1. But has the Bishop of that diocese learned anything?

Or is this just a costly inconvenience to him?

[Major Nikon]

2. Not all that costly

$800K for 5 people’s childhoods stolen. I’m sure at this point the RCC sees it as the cost of doing business. They certainly don’t seem to have any interest in any meaningful reform, and why would they given the number of apologists out there who provide cover for their culture of child rape.

[MineralMan]

3. I have no idea of the financial situation at that diocese.

Given the anti-Catholic sentiments in the South, it might just be a lot of money to that institution.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. I hope they already cashed the check.