The $60 million settlement of 45 cases in which clergy had been accused of sexual abuse is "fair and just," Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles said Dec. 1.

In a statement, the cardinal also termed the settlement "a positive step forward in the church's efforts to promote healing and reconciliation for those who have suffered abuse by members of the clergy."

He also made a personal apology to all victims of abuse by a priest, religious or deacon in the archdiocese.

"The sexual abuse of minors is both a sin and a crime, and there is no place in the priesthood for those who have abused children," he added.

The archdiocese said its share of the settlement was about $40 million, with the remainder covered by insurance companies or religious orders. The amount of the settlement "was anticipated and set aside last year," it added.

"I want to assure you ... that no parishes will be affected as a result of this settlement," Cardinal Mahony said.

But the cardinal said settlement of the remaining sex abuse claims the archdiocese faces --- estimated at more than 500 --- "will not be without pain and may require the archdiocese to re-evaluate some ministries, services and nonessential properties."

"The Archdiocesan Finance Council, the Council of Priests and the deans will continue to work closely together to determine the best way to meet the archdiocese's share of future settlements," he said.

Settlements in those cases "will require the active participation of the many insurance companies who provided liability insurance during those past years when abuse occurred," Cardinal Mahony said. "It is my hope that these insurance companies will join all of us in moving steadily toward a final settlement of these cases as soon as possible."

Michael Hennigan, an attorney for the Archdiocese, said that the parties to the settlement have reached an agreement on a protocol for releasing non-privileged documents under the supervision of a judge.

More than 1,000 allegations of clergy sexual abuse have been made in California, in part because of a 2003 law that extended the statute of limitations for such claims.

In 2004, the Diocese of Orange, created in 1976 from territory of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, agreed to pay $100 million to settle 90 abuse claims.

In a 2004 report, the Los Angeles Archdiocese said it had settled child molestation cases since 1985 for a total of $10.35 million. Of that, it said, the archdiocese paid about $3.75 million, insurance paid about $3.7 million and the remainder was paid by others, such as religious orders, other dioceses or the perpetrators themselves.

---CNS

Cardinal Mahony's statement:
Today's settlement of 45 cases is a positive step forward in the Church's efforts to promote healing and reconciliation for those who have suffered abuse by members of the clergy.

At this time, I again offer my personal apology to every victim who has suffered sexual abuse by a priest, religious or deacon in this Archdiocese. The sexual abuse of minors is both a sin and a crime, and there is no place in the priesthood for those who have abused children.

I pray that the settlement of this initial group of cases will help the victims involved to move forward with their lives and to build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Victims, attorneys, judges and Church leaders worked diligently together to fashion a settlement that is fair and just. The Archdiocese set aside funds last year in anticipation of the final agreement, as shown in its June 30, 2005, Financial Statement. Now that this settlement is finalized, our attention will focus on the resolution of all remaining cases.

To reach a settlement in those cases will require the active participation of the many insurance companies who provided liability insurance during those past years when abuse occurred. It is my hope that these insurance companies will join all of us in moving steadily toward a final settlement of these cases as soon as possible.

The Archdiocesan Finance Council, the Council of Priests, and the Deans will continue to work closely together to determine the best way to meet the Archdiocese's share of future settlements. This future process will not be without pain and may require the Archdiocese to reevaluate some ministries, services, and non-essential properties. I want to assure you, however, that no parishes will be affected as a result of this settlement.

I also renew the pledge of the Archdiocese to continue the work of preventing sexual abuse and the potential for abuse through our abuse prevention training programs, screening procedures for all priests, employees and volunteers, and our age-appropriate safe environment programs for children in our parishes and schools.

Let us pray for the special intercession of Our Lady of the Angels, so that healing for all victims and their loved ones will continue forward. May Our Lady also guide all of us in bringing about a fair and just settlement of the remaining cases.