Jury Awards $11.4 Million to Victims in N.Y. Diocese Sex Abuse Case

May 23, 2007

  • May 23, 2007 at 2:31 am
    Bill Reed says:
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    There are several things I find troubling about this trend in litigation. Does anyone really believe the Catholic church has a corner on the molestation market? Why are there no other religions targeted?Some of these incidents occured DECADES ago. Only now when it\’s become vogue are the allged victims coming forward. I wonder why now? Enriching alleged victims sends no message to the church. Perhaps the awards should be re-directed to education and prevention. After all, isn\’t that what the attorneys claim they and their clients want? But what about the money? No amount of money is going to make the alleged victims feel any better. It\’s always about the money. Our society is programmed that anytime something bad happens somebody must pay money and the injured person has a chance to make big bucks. (so does the attorney) That trend isn\’t likely to stop anytime soon.

  • May 23, 2007 at 2:40 am
    KLS says:
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    I really like your idea about re-directing some (or all) of the awarded money towards education and prevention.

    You\’re right, money can\’t buy the victims better feelings about what happened to them… but putting the money toward preventative measures could have a healing effect on them.

  • May 23, 2007 at 2:47 am
    unattractive says:
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    I\’m suing the Catholic Church. When I was a kid I was an Altar Boy who served daily Mass early in the morning before school started, and not once was I approached by a Priest other Church employee in a sexual manner. As a result I now have recovered memories of feeling unattractive and rejected, and I believe my psyche has been significantly damage to the point that it has affected my adult life. The only cure for my problems stemming from this rejection is a boatload of money. If I can get enough money I will be able to put all of that behind me and will then be a successful, well-adjusted adult.

  • May 23, 2007 at 3:01 am
    Big Neal says:
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    Poor form.

  • May 23, 2007 at 5:42 am
    Adjuster in New England says:
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    I agree as to poor form. And as to whether the Catholic Church is being unfairly picked on I would say it is not. I suspect the important difference between the Catholic Church and other churches has to do with how involved others besides the clergy are in a local church. Most protestant churches have active lay boards and committees that would be less likely to cover up and less likely to not take action regarding pedophiles. Many catholic churches now have active lay committees but that was not always the case. I think it is much harder to hush up these types of problems where a large number of the churchgoers were involved. I am sure it happened in the protestant churchs also but I suspect not as much because of the structure of the local churches.

  • May 23, 2007 at 6:28 am
    EeeBee says:
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    The catholic church requires celibacy for all priests in order to prevent any heirs to the vatican riches. In the 1950\’s & 60\’s , the priesthood became an alternative for gay men and apparently, pedophiles – celibacy was an answer to suppressing their \”inner demons\”. (no I\’m not making this up – I\’ve interviewed about 75 men who have left the priesthood – research for a thesis) Unfortunately, pedophiles cannot ignore their urges when surrounded by children daily, and the church tried to cover it up. You don\’t hear about it happening as much in other religions because most don\’t have a celibacy requirement.
    Ironic that these settlement payments offend some, but the riches of the catholic church does not. The vatican sits on untold BILLIONS, if not trillions. So the lawsuits hit them where it hurts – their money. Hence, their disgusting attempts (and some successes) in trying to claim bankrupcy in a few parishes to preempt any future suits. It\’s all about the Almighty… dollar, that is.

  • May 24, 2007 at 8:57 am
    Anon says:
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    Dear sir, I too am troubled by the same terrible affliction you face caused by the insensitivities of the Priests in the childhood parish – is was made worse when, as an adult, I learned several people at the elementary school were convicted of child/sexual abuse. I would like to ask you to consider taking it class action so we can all back up the Brink\’s truck and feel better about ourselves.

  • May 24, 2007 at 10:44 am
    mcheck57 says:
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    Let the church not pay for its lack of sensitivity, turning the other cheek and for its sweeping these abuses under the altar rug.
    That will teach them.
    What remedy do you propose?

  • May 24, 2007 at 11:25 am
    unattractive says:
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    What would be an appropriate remedy for the suffering I have endured for the last few days since I recovered my memories of rejection? Hmmmmm. I don\’t want money…that would be crass and commercial, not to mention greedy. Maybe an apology from the Priests who were responsible; but I believe them to have gone to their eternal reward. Maybe a Plenary Indulgence granted by the Pope would suffice, giving me eternal rewards beyond measure; but I doubt the Pope will acknowledge the suffering I have had to experience at the hands of these unfeeling, uncaring Fathers. Well, reluctantly, and knowing that it will not quell the feelings of angst and self-loathing I harbor as a result of such neglect at a tender age, and that it will not bring \’closure\’ to me in any respect, I would be willing to settle my claim, regain my self-worth, and move on to a more productive, positive existence with an infusion of a large quantity of cash. Only a number followed by a long series of 0\’s will make me a complete human being after all.

  • May 24, 2007 at 12:22 pm
    mcheck57 says:
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    Unattractive..what if you or your child was molested? You make light of a serious offense, an offense so serious that sex offenders must register. I guess you think rape victims deserve it huh?



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