Chicago archdiocese settles with 24 abuse victims

Chicago, Ill., Oct 30, 2005 / 22:00 pm

The Archdiocese of Chicago has reached an out-of-court settlement with 24 people who say priests sexually abused them as minors. The sum of the settlement has not been disclosed, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

At a press conference Thursday, lawyers for the victims and archdiocesan spokesman Jim Dwyer said the settlement involves 14 current or former priests, none of whom is currently in active ministry.

The five of the men are deceased; the other nine have been permanently removed from ministry, said Dwyer.

Since 1950, the archdiocese has received credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors against 60 priests, Dwyer said.

Victims’ lawyers commended archdiocesan officials for their willingness to negotiate and settle with abuse survivors whose cases were beyond statutes of limitations. They also said the archdiocese should release a comprehensive list of priests who stand accused of abusing minors.

But Dwyer said the archdiocese would not publish such a list as not all of the allegations are proven or credible.