Saint Frances Cabrini Parish

Father Kleppner - September 23, 2007

By now you have heard from the media that the Diocese of Pittsburgh reached a conciliatory resolution of 32 lawsuits involving claims of clergy sexual abuse in the amount of $1.25 million dollars. This amount is divided among the 32 plaintiffs and their attorney. Please note this is not a settlement of 1.25 million for each plaintiff, rather it is the establishment of an outreach fund intended to bring about reconciliation and healing.
I share with you the following news release from the Diocese. As you read it, please keep in mind the following:

This is a resolution, not a court-mandated settlement.

The funds for the resolution have come from insurance, not from Parish Share or Offertory collections.

The cases involved accusations of abuse dating from 1954 to 1989.

Of the 18 priests named in the lawsuits, nine are deceased and the rest are no longer in ministry.

The status of the three remaining lawsuits is unclear, but we continue to hope for healing and reconciliation.

RESOLUTION ANNOUNCED IN ABUSE LAWSUITS
PITTSBURGH – A conciliatory resolution of 32 civil lawsuits involving claims of abuse or injury by priests has been jointly announced by the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the plaintiffs’ attorneys. The plaintiffs have withdrawn their lawsuits.
In a series of decisions, courts in Pennsylvania have held that the statute of limitations prevents the bringing of suits in these cases, because the alleged abuses happened long before the cases were filed.
“The Pennsylvania courts’ rulings preclude our clients from pursuing their claims,” said Alan H. Perer, a senior partner at the Law Firm of SPK, who represents all of the plaintiffs, and the “gesture by the Diocese is very much appreciated.”
The Diocese of Pittsburgh has established a $1.25 million Outreach Fund to be distributed by an independent arbitrator to the plaintiffs for healing and reconciliation based on a review of each individual claim.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh and the plaintiffs believed it was important to resolve these issues in a conciliatory fashion.
Each plaintiff in the lawsuits will also be invited to take part in a program of counseling and healing.
The resolution was welcomed by Attorney Perer. “Often institutions brush these sorts of things under the rug as soon as possible. It was important and admirable for the Diocese to step forward and offer these people help and some form of compensation,” said Perer, joining in the announcement with attorney Richard Serbin, co-counsel who represents similar clients in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
“Not only has the Diocese shown care and respect for these people, it has also provided through the policies and practices it has in place that this sort of thing will not happen again,” Perer said.
“Outreach and healing have been central to our response to victims of clergy sexual misconduct,” Bishop Paul J. Bradley, diocesan administrator, said.
“With the cooperation of the plaintiffs and attorneys in the lawsuits, we have moved from an adversarial relationship in the legal system to conciliation and agreement. This is important for all involved so that true healing can begin,” Bishop Bradley said.

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH OF PITTSBURGH
God our Father, our eternal shepherd and guide, look with love on the Church of Pittsburgh as we prepare to welcome Bishop-Designate David Zubik, chosen as the twelfth Bishop of Pittsburgh.
For over 160 years, You have inspired the life of this Diocese through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We ask that our hearts be filled with that same Holy Spirit as we embark on the next segment of our journey of faith together. Bless Bishop-Designate Zubik as he prepares to lead us closer to you. Enlighten our minds, deepen our faith, renew our hope and increase our love for one another and for all.
Through the proclamation of the Word and the celebration of the Eucharist, bless the clergy, religious and faithful of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and make us all genuine instruments to boldly witness the presence of Christ in the world. Together may we continue to build up the Body of Christ now and as you lead us into the future.
We ask this as we do all things through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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