Southern Missouri diocese spent $700K settling abuse claims
CAPE GIRARDEAU — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has spent more than $700,000 settling claims of clergy sexual abuse over the last 30 years.
Bishop Edward Rice disclosed in a letter Tuesday that the southern Missouri diocese has spent more than $517,000 paying alleged victims and nearly $190,000 on legal fees since 1986, the Southeast Missourian reported.
Rice wrote that $70,000 went toward victims’ counseling, medications and “future funeral expenses.”
Eight of the abuse claims were settled through payments from the diocese’s unrestricted cash reserves, while another three were paid by the diocese’s insurer, Catholic Mutual Relief Society.
https://www.columbiatribune.com/news/20190403/southern-missouri-diocese-spent-700k-settling-abuse-claims