(COMTEX) B: Victims of sex abuse by Nfld. priest accept $13-million compensation deal
( The Canadian Press )
CORNER BROOK, Nfld., May 26, 2005 (The Canadian Press via COMTEX) -- Sexual
abuse victims of a Newfoundland priest have accepted $13 million in compensation
from the Roman Catholic diocese where he worked.
Individual compensation for the 36 people ranges from a low of $75,000 dollars
to a high of $1 million. Greg Stack, a lawyer for most of the abuse victims,
said they had the choice of either accepting the offer or letting the diocese of
St. George's go into bankruptcy.
Bishop Douglas Crosby said he's grateful the victims have seen fit to vote in
favour of the offer.
Diocese officials said they will need to sell some of their assets to pay for
the compensation deal.
They have appealed to parishioners, and are accepting contributions from other
dioceses.
Rev. Kevin Bennett admitted his guilt and was convicted in 1990 of sexually
abusing 36 boys over a period of nearly 20 years while he worked in the diocese.
He served four years in prison. Now retired and in his 70s, Bennett continues to
draw a church pension.
Last March the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the former altar boys could
sue the priest and the diocese for damages.
But it didn't rule on the question of whether the Roman Catholic church as a
whole could be sued.
Bennett's 36 victims launched a civil suit in 1991, claiming damages from the
priest, some of his church superiors, the western Newfoundland diocese of St.
George's and the church as a whole.
Unlike many other denominations, which are incorporated nationally, the Catholic
Church in Canada is legally incorporated only at the diocese level and has
traditionally enjoyed immunity from lawsuits.
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Copyright (C) 2005 The Canadian Press (CP), All rights reserved
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