Richmond Diocese issues $6.3M to those abused by clergy
The Catholic Diocese of Richmond has given $6.3 million to people who were abused by clergy when they were minors, according to a report released by the church Thursday.
All together, 68 claims were initiated, 60 were eligible and 51 offers were made and accepted. The report also said six claims were ineligible, two were withdrawn or never completed and nine were denied by an administrator.
The money victims received is part of the voluntary Independent Reconciliation Program, established Feb. 17, a year after the Diocese released a list of 42 clergy with “credible and substantiated” sexual assault allegations against minors.
The program ended Thursday, the Diocese said on its website.
Individuals who were victims of child sexual abuse by a member of the clergy serving in the Diocese of Richmond were eligible for the program, and funding was provided through the Catholic Diocese of
Richmond’s self-insurance program, a loan and contributions from other religious orders.
The church’s announcement said the program was created to “offer assistance to and facilitate healing for individuals who, as minors, experienced sexual abuse by its clergy,” and was created after Bishop Barry C. Knestout called for another means of support beyond the diocese’s current outreach.
Claims were deemed ineligible if they did not meet the eligibility requirements set
forth in the protocol.
The Diocese also said all individuals participating in the program, even those who have accepted a monetary payment, still have the right to discuss their claim and their abuse because the claims process did not involve confidentiality agreements.
Those who accepted a monetary payment waived any future civil legal claim against the Richmond Diocese related to their sexual abuse claims.
“Recognizing that no
amount of money will ever be able to fully compensate for the injury inflicted by abusive clergy, Bishop Knestout announced the Independent Reconciliation Program as one of many means to offer individuals a tangible sign of the Church’s effort to repair the injury and overcome the estrangement caused by clergy sexual abuse of minors,” the announcement said.