To date, the Archdiocese of New York has received over 200 claims of sexual abuse involving roughly 40 different priests. Those victims are now facing a tough decision. A report by the New York Times earlier this month revealed that the Cardinal Timothy Dolan has offered to settle matters of sexual abuse out of court if victims agree to not pursue further legal action. Essentially, the Catholic Church has decided to give out lump sums of money to those who suffered abuse in return for their silence. The offer leaves survivors in a difficult position: should they continue to fight for justice in court, or take the money being put on the table and try to move on with their lives?
Program Specifics
Here's how it will work: a respected independent mediator will review claims and decide on a dollar amount the Church must pay each victim. There is no limit to how high the settlements can go, and the Church will have no say in the matter. Even if Church officials think an offer is too high, they won't be able to reject it.
However, there are several catches to the program. First, it only applies to victims who have already come forward regarding their abuse. There's also a tight deadline: anyone who decides to participate must sign up for the program by the end of January.
Criticism
While some view this program as a positive gesture by the Church meant to help victims financially, critics see it differently. In their minds, the fact that the Archdiocese has promised to "pay whatever it takes" to settle these cases is proof that the Church doesn't actually care about the victims, it simply wants the problem to go away. It's certainly in the Archdiocese's interest for victims to take the money. After all, once participants take the settlement, they waive the right to sue the church.
Critics also say that this program is a convenient way for the Church to maintain secrecy surrounding the actual extent of the abuse. Keeping the claims out of court will help the Church limit negative publicity in the future. However, in doing this, the Church is protecting the perpetrators the disturbed priests who committed these heinous acts will never be held accountable.
Suspicious Timing
One big question continues to hover over this proposal: why now? We've been aware of abuse in the Catholic Church for years, yet Cardinal Dolan waited until just recently to announce the program. He claims he was moved by "mercy" to push it forward. However, some legal experts say it was actually a strategic legal move.
The state of New York currently has a statute of limitations on sexual-abuse cases, meaning that after a certain amount of time passes abusers can no longer be charged with a crime. Here's the twist: there is mounting political pressure to lift this statute of limitations. This would open up the Archdiocese to a whole new round of legal battles with former victims something Cardinal Dolan surely wants to avoid. Thus, many see the abuse settlement program as an insidious attempt by the Church to clear its slate of abuse victims in case the law changes.
Money vs. Justice
Regardless of the program's intent, the money is real. For some victims, it could go a long way in helping them to find peace. Whether it covers therapy bills, mortgage payments, or even a fresh start in a new city, the Church's money offers tangible benefits. However, this is surely a difficult for many survivors of abuse. On the one hand, the money may provide substantial comfort. On the other hand, it's a lot to ask. They'd have to forgo any shot at bringing justice to those responsible for the abuse. The program is entirely confidential, so there's no way to know how many people will decide to participate. Some will likely take the money, while others may choose to continue their fight in the courts.
Going Forward
One thing must be stressed, above all else survivors should in no way feel ashamed about simply taking the money and walking away. Victims of abuse carry those awful memories with them everywhere they go. If continued legal battles will only serve to reopen old wounds, then perhaps they are best avoided.
Takeaways
One glaring question remains unanswered: what will the settlement program do to prevent future abuse from occurring? The priests involved remain shielded by the church, and the archdiocese has done little to indicate that it cares about transparency. Whether the Catholic Church will make a change for the better remains to be seen.
What is your reaction to this news? Is offering money to sexual abuse victims a sign of the Church's good faith, or is the archdiocese simply trying to cover up future scandals?
31 comments
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Carol Amina
RG, I was also a victim but not of a catholic priest but a Sunday school teacher in a Methodist Church. Thank gawd that man is dead. I am so very sorry for what happened to you. I am sorry you went through it and understand it will never fully leave you. But I hope with all my heart that you will have some healing. My friend they can never compensate you for what was taken. But taking money from them is one way to hold them accountable is a small way. I think hitting them in the pocket book counts for something. They owe you! and again I am just so very sad and sorry. Peace and Blessings.
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RG
I was a victim also... and offered a set amount of money... my altered life is worth that?!?!? I died that day. I''m still going back and forth of whether to take and go about my life... something inside screams my life was worth the amount they came to?!?!? How dare them!!! To think, I was a seminarian in high school... even then seriously thinking about wearing the same cloth that murdered me... My life became a path of destruction... I repressed it and still struggle.
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John Owens
RG, I am so sorry for someone having violated you. This kind of violation is all too common, and segments of the world want to normalize it, or "de-stigmatize" it. Personally, I think the penalty should be harsh enough that most of that behavior is discontinued before it ever occurs. None of that can help you retro-actively, but you can still choose light over darkness, and good over the absence of good. There is some comfort to be gleaned from reading passages of scripture, but that might sound cliché if you are not already well steeped in that. Know this, though, the person or persons who debauched you and used you do not represent the God of Creation but rather the god of this present world. The God of Creation knows what happens, but humanity doesn't want Him to rule over them, so He does not interfere, except in very rare cases. He still wants to heal your spirit, and He will, if you will draw close to Him. It is difficult to say just the right thing to you right now, but I want you to know that many people care and are both hurt and angry that these things happen, and many of us here are in your corner. We may bicker among ourselves over other things, but we can agree that this is not acceptable and that we want to show true human compassion for YOU.
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John Owens
Thankfully, there was not a lot of argument here. Not a lot of room for argument here.
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minister, howard scanlan
every priest should be brought to justice FIRST! a civil suit could go forward after that, if innocent of charges then so be it. the church should be an advocate to stop this and NEVER shield their own, it puts a cloud over the entire church.
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Arnaldo Garcia
Is a criminal actitude
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Cathleen V. Cain
It doesn't say if these priests are getting kicked out of the priesthood. Also, why is the church saving their asses? Why not offer a deal and have the only caveat be that they cannot pursue further legal action against the cchurch? The church should hang the perpetrators out to dry, throw then under the bus, and completely let them take the fall for their own actions.
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Rev.. D. Dansie
I read posts and never comment, but this one as I was reading comments and it just came to me, I felt the need to say something. Christ stated "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone" then he stated, "go your way, and sin no more". I just think that it is interesting how we are always the first to judge. Where is the counseling for the priests that have sinned? In business we educate up or educate out. I think that all organized religions need to teach their representatives properly. Just like a lot of businesses, you get thrown in and said here you go this is your job, don’t screw up. Oh and by the way, you’ll have to learn everything on your own, if you mess you, you’re out. We have all taken on this choice because we have a desire to serve, but where is our education? How many of us seek for that understanding? We are all human and we all sin. Am I condoning what the Catholic Church is doing, NO, I am just stating that they have to have more education. And no, I am not affiliated with the Catholic Church, nor am I with any organized religion. Just some thoughts.
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John Owens
So, Rev Dansie, you're saying, THE PRIESTS DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER? The Bishops didn't know what to do when the priests raped children? The CARDINALS didn't know? EDUCATE THEM? Educate them with a taser for being accessories to this.
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John Owens
A show of mercy from the Church would be revealing all their dirty secrets and excommunication of all those who commit them. The sanctity of the confessional is NO EXCUSE WHATSOEVER to keep these things hidden. The whole idea of the confessional is both a means of gathering intelligence and blackmail that the Church has used to gain and hold power in governments. No human is so noble that they can hear the secret thoughts of many different people and not at least be tempted to seek to take advantage somewhere, somehow. The money is NOT a show of mercy. It is an admission of guilt and a shameless path to continue its evil practices.
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shiningwholf9
Since when is HUSH MONEY free money? Paying someone off so things will be kept secret is not free money, it is bribery!
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Eugene Clarke
Cardinal Dolan is slick ....and more concerned with maintaining the money flow to the Church?Vatican than holding himself and his clergy accountable for their behavior and flaunting the sacred lives of the Catholic youth....This is why we have a legal system in our society....but the hierarchy thinks that they are basically above the law....it's just another example of the hierarchy thumbing their noses at our legal system ...and caring less the horrible abuse of the clergy...
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louise hankey
They are not worthy of being preists by useing god to camaflage there evil deeds
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Ricardo
Totally off-base article. This is a great show of mercy by the Catholic Church... they didn't HAVE to give money to anybody, but they chose to anyway. Those people really shouldn't be complaining - it's FREE MONEY!!!
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hsw
I see your comments to other discussions have been deleted - I hope this one falls to the same fate. You comment as if you are a child who has no understanding and certainly no compassion. This is a discussion among people who, while we may disagree, all come to the table with a perspective of ethics and the good of society. What are you bringing?
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DeLeon
It is not free money Ricardo. Every Catholic that ever put a nickle, dime or a dollar in that envelope every Sunday provided that money. I know from the time before I made my first communion with my little white envelope with 50 cents in it until many years later when the envelope contained a lot of money for my whole family I finally decided I had enough of the "Mystery" of the church and left it. That and millions like me supplied them with this "Hush" money. They will try to keep their secrets and avoid the shame of reality at all cost. It has been going for a thousand years. It works the other way as well. My Mother-in-law sought a divorce in the 1930's and was told by the Bishop of the diocese at that time "for a fee it could arranged". She paid the fee but they ex-communicated her anyway. So much for moral character.
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Gonzo
Free money??? I was an alter boy in 1980, and yes it happend. Nothing justifies or makes me whole again. But to say I somehow earned money would be better than "it's free money"
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hsw
Don't feed the troll. He's only here to start a fight. I'm so sorry that happened to you and no, nothing justifies it.
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Carol Amina
Wow spoken like a person who has never had someone in power rape them before! There is not enough money to make up for what men in the church have done to women and children.
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John Owens
It is absolutely horrific and there is not any excuse than can lend any pretense of godliness or righteousness to the unholy Roman Catholic Church for this practice. So many cases, and this is not new. People used to be proud that their son was an altar-boy. Now they fear to allow them to be an altar-boy. Shame on the Church hierarchy for their complicity in this Satanic debauchery of innocents.
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hsw
It's absolutely an attempt at a coverup. If they can settle with the victims they can avoid revealing ugly details.
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Galin Pheylan
Christ Like; true Catholic. Would Yeshua allow these abuses? Would Yeshua allow HUSH MONEY to cover up sexual abuses? They are against homosexuality, yet allow this to go on generation after generation. Crumble the Catholic Church, and all churches who willingly refuse to deal openly with these kind of abuses.
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James Pace
Each and every victim should have their say in court and each and every abuser should be held personally responsible...
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Threedogs
However, victims need to choose what is best for them. They had no choice in the abuse, they must be allowed choice now.
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Kathryn
Paying off abuse victims: Paving the road to hell with bad intentions.
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John Maher
TRY and get DONALD J. TRUMP to PAY UP, 15 WOMEN, THAT is SICK !!!
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Carol Amina
lol...perfect!
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hsw
WTH this isn't a political question.
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Ernie
First off Trumps allegations are from Hillarys Secretary the first one and the last is a porn star just because Bill got caught with his pants down does'nt mean the slander will work on Trump it doesnt take an education to see through the bullshit Nice try though.
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Susan Borden (@ReZistah)
Amen to that, Ernie. (Hillary's been with more gals than Donald, so she's a great one to talk).
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This is absolutely part of the plan. We are at end times its all part of Satan's grand scheme. Be on guard everyone and pray