by Catholic News Service
Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain said Tuesday that he hopes the settlement of 30 claims of sexual abuse will bring victims "closure and allow them to continue the process of healing."
The Seattle archdiocese settled cases involving abuse that the victims said was carried out by members of the Christian Brothers at two institutions managed by the order in western Washington.
The most recent cases in question were nearly 30 years old and some dated back almost 60 years, according to an archdiocesan press release announcing the settlement, which totaled $12.1 million.
A teaching order, the Christian Brothers operated the Briscoe School, a boarding and day school for boys in the Kent Valley, beginning in 1914. The order also staffed and managed Bishop O'Dea High School, an archdiocesan school, from its opening in 1923.
"I deeply regret the pain suffered by these victims," Sartain said in his statement.
The settlement was funded by archdiocesan insurance programs.
The release urged anyone "who has knowledge of sexual abuse or misconduct by a member of the clergy, an employee or volunteer" of the Seattle archdiocese to call the archdiocesan hotline at (800) 446-7762.
