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Northwestern States Jesuit Order Reaches $166M Settlement Of Sexual Abuse Claims

By Howard M. Friedman

The largest settlement ever in a clergy sexual abuse case has been reached between the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus and 470 victims, most of whom were abused at Native American mission schools by Jesuit priests from the 1940's to the 1990's. CNN reported yesterday that the Province (comprised of Jesuits in five Western states), which is now in bankruptcy (see prior posting), has settled the claims for $166.1 million. Of that, $118 million will be paid by the Province's insurers. In 2007, before filing for bankruptcy, the religious order agreed to pay $50 million to to dozens of Alaska Natives who claimed sexual abuse by Jesuit priests over a 30-year period. (See prior posting.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 26, 2011 (boomark / email).