The US Oregon Province of the Jesuits, has agreed to pay US$166.1 million to compensate more than 450 native American child victims of sexual abuse.
The “Northwest” Jesuits paid the compensation for what has been described as “horrific”, the sexual abuse at it’s religious mission schools, mainly on Indian reservations from the 1940’s through to the 1990’s.
“This settlement recognizes that the Jesuits betrayed the trust of hundreds of young children in their care, and inflicted terrible atrocities upon them,” said lawyer Blaine Tamaki.
“These religious figures should have been responsible for protecting children, but instead raped and molested them,” he added.
The settlement was welcomed by the victims, some of whom said they had carried the secret for years, “hidden in the dark of their soul”s.
As well as money, the settlement also calls for a written apology to the victims and disclosure of documents to them.
Many of the abuses took place at remote villages and on reservations. The Jesuits were accused of placing problem priests in these areas.
John Allison, a lawyer representing many clients abused in the late 1960’s and 1970’s said the Jesuits “let down a very vulnerable population”.
The Northwest Jesuits had previously settled another 200 claims and filed for bankruptcy in 2009. Victims however argued the Jesuit Oregon province was still wealthy because it owned and conrolled Gonzaga University, Gonzaga Preparatory School, Seattle University and other schools and properties.
The settlement is the said to be the third largest in the Catholic Church’s history and in a statement Patrick Lee head of the Oregon Jesuits said, “The province continues to work with the creditors committee to conclude the bankruptcy process as promptly as possible.”
Sources
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