Current:Home > MarketsArchdiocese of Philadelphia settles child sex abuse case against a deceased priest for $3.5 million -TradeCircle
Archdiocese of Philadelphia settles child sex abuse case against a deceased priest for $3.5 million
View
Date:2025-04-17 04:49:31
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will pay $3.5 million to settle a civil case alleging a now-deceased priest sexually assaulted a teenage boy nearly two decades ago, and church officials knew of similar reports about the priest dating back to the 1970s, attorneys for the victim announced Wednesday.
The plaintiff was a 14-year-old student in religious classes at St. Katherine of Siena Parish in Wayne when the sexual assault occurred in 2006, his attorneys said. They said Monsignor John Close assaulted the boy after hearing his confession. The plaintiff, now 30, reported the episode in 2018. Many survivors of child sexual abuse do not report the abuse until years later.
Close died in 2018. Attorneys for the plaintiff say the archdiocese knew Close was a danger to children in the 1970s, after a priest reported teenage boys were sleeping overnight in Close’s room. Close was reassigned. Other alleged victims have come forward, attorneys said.
“We deeply regret the pain suffered by any survivor of child sexual abuse and have a sincere desire to help victims on their path to healing,” Kenneth A. Gavin, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said in a statement.
The church hierarchy denies knowing about the plaintiff’s allegation prior to Close’s death, and reported it to law enforcement after it was brought forward by the attorneys, an archdiocese spokesperson said in a statement.
Close was ordained in 1969 and was placed in a variety of parishes and schools until he was put on administrative leave, with priestly faculties restricted, in 2011. He retired in 2012.
Attorneys for the plaintiff assert in court filing that a 2011 grand jury’s report — which examined whether the diocese had changed its internal practices of moving priests accused of sexual abuse and not reporting the allegations to law enforcement — prompted church officials to reevaluate earlier reports about Close, resulting in his publicly-disclosed administrative leave that year. The archdiocese did not immediately say why Close was placed on leave at that time.
The lawsuit was settled ahead of trial.
In 2018, a grand jury found that hundreds of Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania molested more than 1,000 children — and possibly many more — since the 1940s, and senior church officials systematically covered up the abuse.
The report put the number of abusive clergy at more than 300. In nearly all of the cases, the statute of limitations had run out, meaning criminal charges could not be filed. More than 100 of the priests are dead, and many others are retired or have been dismissed from the priesthood or put on leave.
Seven of the state’s eight dioceses launched victim compensation funds following the grand jury report. The funds were open to claims for a limited time. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has paid $78.5 million to 438 claimants, as of a 2022 report.
Lawmakers in Pennsylvania sought a two-year window for child sexual abuse survivors to file otherwise outdated lawsuits over their claims, but a partisan fight in the Legislature kept the proposal bottled up with no resolution in sight.
veryGood! (95)
Related
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Uber and Lyft say they’ll stay in Minnesota after Legislature passes driver pay compromise
- County sheriffs wield lethal power, face little accountability: A failure of democracy
- Simone Biles won big at U.S. Classic with Taylor Swift routine. Who might join her on Team USA?
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Judge cites error, will reopen sentencing hearing for man who attacked Paul Pelosi
- Emmitt Smith ripped Florida for eliminating all DEI roles. Here's why the NFL legend spoke out.
- Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Tyrese Haliburton wears Reggie Miller choke hoodie after Pacers beat Knicks in Game 7
Ranking
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Is that ‘Her’? OpenAI pauses a ChatGPT voice after some say it sounds like Scarlett Johansson
- Kanye West, Billie Eilish and the Beatles highlight Apple Music 100 Best Albums Nos. 30-21
- 2 injured in shooting at Missouri HS graduation, a day after gunfire near separate ceremony
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Courteney Cox Shares Matthew Perry Visits Her 6 Months After His Death
- 4 killed in Georgia wreck after van plows through median into oncoming traffic
- Armed robbers hit luxury store in Paris reported to be Jeweler to the Stars
Recommendation
Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
Push to enforce occupancy rule in College Station highlights Texas A&M students’ housing woes
Nina Dobrev Hospitalized After Bicycle Accident
There was a fatal shooting at this year’s ‘Jeep Week’ event on Texas Gulf Coast. Here’s what to know
Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
Kennesaw State University student fatally shot in front of residence hall; suspect charged
Top Democrat calls for Biden to replace FDIC chairman to fix agency’s ‘toxic culture’
Lenny Kravitz announces string of Las Vegas shows in runup to new album, turning 60