Diocese avoids abuse payouts
La Crosse, Wisconsin --
Victims here compensated for therapy
Victims of clergy sexual abuse in the Catholic Diocese of La Crosse have received far less money from the Catholic Church over the past five decades than any other Wisconsin diocese or archdiocese, according to a Daily Herald review of abuse statistics from the state's four Catholic dioceses and one archdiocese.
The Daily Herald found that from 1950 to 2002 the La Crosse Diocese, which includes Marathon County, spent $15,800 on counseling stemming from 58 sexual abuse allegations against 28 diocesan clergy members.
Thirty-one of those allegations, involving 10 clergymen, have been substantiated.
"Assistance has been made available in appropriate circumstances based upon need, not culpability of the diocese or whether the allegation is substantiated," according to a La Crosse Diocese report released in January 2004.
By contrast, abuse cases elsewhere in the state have yielded large payouts to victims:
• The Diocese of Superior reported substantiated sexual abuse allegations against only two clergy members between 1950 and 2002 but paid about $60,000 to victims. The diocese's insurance company paid out $482,000.
• The Diocese of Madison paid $1.6 million to 19 victims from its self-insurance program.
• The Diocese of Green Bay paid $1.356 million, $1 million of which was paid by insurers to settle claims in three cases against one priest.
• The Archdiocese of Milwaukee paid $3.4 million for out-of-court settlements, attorney fees, therapy costs and other assistance. The archdiocese reported substantiated sexual abuse allegations against 45 clerics between 1950 and 2002.
Ben Nguyen, director of the office of communications for the La Crosse Diocese, said none of the substantiated allegations against diocesan clergy had led to a lawsuit against the diocese and the diocese would prefer not to negotiate legal settlements.
"We've never entered into any type of settlement. We have always met with the people to get to the truth of the matter," Nguyen said.
The diocese has not released the names of victims, making it difficult to verify independently why victims did not file civil lawsuits or seek financial settlements.
Victim questions diocese
That doesn't sit well with Brenda Varga, 43, of Plover. She said she underwent at least eight years of therapy following abuse by a priest when she was 9 years old, and she has asked the La Crosse Diocese several times to reimburse her for the sessions. Nguyen confirmed that Varga has not received any money for therapy.
Read the article at Wausau Daily Herald Dated July 17, 2005
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Victims here compensated for therapy
Victims of clergy sexual abuse in the Catholic Diocese of La Crosse have received far less money from the Catholic Church over the past five decades than any other Wisconsin diocese or archdiocese, according to a Daily Herald review of abuse statistics from the state's four Catholic dioceses and one archdiocese.
The Daily Herald found that from 1950 to 2002 the La Crosse Diocese, which includes Marathon County, spent $15,800 on counseling stemming from 58 sexual abuse allegations against 28 diocesan clergy members.
Thirty-one of those allegations, involving 10 clergymen, have been substantiated.
"Assistance has been made available in appropriate circumstances based upon need, not culpability of the diocese or whether the allegation is substantiated," according to a La Crosse Diocese report released in January 2004.
By contrast, abuse cases elsewhere in the state have yielded large payouts to victims:
• The Diocese of Superior reported substantiated sexual abuse allegations against only two clergy members between 1950 and 2002 but paid about $60,000 to victims. The diocese's insurance company paid out $482,000.
• The Diocese of Madison paid $1.6 million to 19 victims from its self-insurance program.
• The Diocese of Green Bay paid $1.356 million, $1 million of which was paid by insurers to settle claims in three cases against one priest.
• The Archdiocese of Milwaukee paid $3.4 million for out-of-court settlements, attorney fees, therapy costs and other assistance. The archdiocese reported substantiated sexual abuse allegations against 45 clerics between 1950 and 2002.
Ben Nguyen, director of the office of communications for the La Crosse Diocese, said none of the substantiated allegations against diocesan clergy had led to a lawsuit against the diocese and the diocese would prefer not to negotiate legal settlements.
"We've never entered into any type of settlement. We have always met with the people to get to the truth of the matter," Nguyen said.
The diocese has not released the names of victims, making it difficult to verify independently why victims did not file civil lawsuits or seek financial settlements.
Victim questions diocese
That doesn't sit well with Brenda Varga, 43, of Plover. She said she underwent at least eight years of therapy following abuse by a priest when she was 9 years old, and she has asked the La Crosse Diocese several times to reimburse her for the sessions. Nguyen confirmed that Varga has not received any money for therapy.
Read the article at Wausau Daily Herald Dated July 17, 2005
posted by God Almighty Himself at 8:17 PM
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