San Diego diocese to pay 144 abuse victims

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego agreed Friday to pay nearly $200 million to 144 people who were sexually abused by clergy members, the second-largest payment since the U.S. abuse scandal erupted five years ago.

The $198.1 million agreement capped more than four years of negotiations in state and federal courts and came six months after the diocese filed for bankruptcy protection just hours before the first of 42 lawsuits was scheduled for trial.

Victims expressed relief that a settlement was reached — but also anger that it took so long.

"They knew all along that I'd been molested, so to put me through this is unconscionable," said Michael Bang of Atlanta.

The diocese had sought to protect its assets in bankruptcy court, but quickly found it a rough venue before a judge who criticized the church for bookkeeping practices, undervaluing real estate holdings and failing to disclose facts.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Louise DeCarl Adler recently threatened to dismiss the case if an agreement was not struck by Tuesday in a last-ditch round of talks before a federal magistrate judge.