Editorials Settlement in Boston
SETTLEMENT IN BOSTON When the Capuchin Franciscan Sean O'Malley was installed as archbishop of Boston in July, he seemed to have an impossible task before him. Close to 550 lawsuits had been filed...
...On September 9, after three days of intense talks, including a midnight meeting between the archbishop and victims' lawyers, the two sides agreed to an unprecedented $85-million settlement...
...Cardinal Bernard Law's attempts to settle the cases ended badly when an archdiocesan financial council vetoed the proposed settlement, saying it was too costly...
...Close to 550 lawsuits had been filed against the archdiocese claiming sexual abuse by its priests...
...His obvious humility, especially his decision to live in a more modest residence than his predecessor did, disarms critics...
...Still, Catholics cannot but be shaken by the amount of money involved, one-third or more of which will go to lawyers...
...Roderick MacLeish Jr., a lawyer for the victims, applauded O'Malley for his honest and forthright handling of the negotiations...
...Without the threat of lawsuits the archdiocese would never have come clean about sexual abuse by priests...
...The archdiocese's commitment to pay for the continued psychological counseling of victims is a very positive sign in this regard...
...Even more troubling was the antagonism and bad feeling that permeated relations between church leaders and victims of abuse...
...By all accounts, O'Malley's involvement was crucial to the deal's success...
...Under the terms of the agreement, each victim will receive between $80,000 and $300,000, depending on a mediator's ruling...
...O'Malley was sent to Boston because he had a proven record of dealing with problems of abuse...
...The archbishop has been widely praised for his role in the settlement...
...Since his installation, O'Malley has displayed a rare ability to win over would be opponents...
...To be sure, the sting of last year's revelations will not soon be forgotten...
...The praise seems warranted...
...Real healing, if it is possible, will depend on more face-to-face forms of recognition and restitution, of the kind O'Malley has displayed...
...The church serves many in its ministry, especially the poor...
...Nor is it clear that victims derive any lasting or restorative benefit from such payments...
...Still, there is hope for reconciliation, and that is something...
...There have been enough already.eady...
...Even the New York Times seems downright smitten (not always a good sign) with the self effacing Franciscan...
...Justice requires that the archdiocese be held accountable...
...The fact that he has earned the respect of so many in so short a time is a sign that the rift created by decades of church malfeasance may not be permanent...
...The settlement in Boston is promising and necessary...
...The tort system is a crude instrument of justice at best...
...That much of this has changed in just two months is remarkable...
...Placing a monetary value on suffering, while offering some compensation for the trauma, can also trivialize it...
...If settlements like the one in Boston bankrupt the church, crippling its ability to serve the needy and witness to the gospel, the tragedy of sexual abuse may claim new victims...
Vol. 130 • September 2003 • No. 16
