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March 25, 2011 in City
$166 million settlement offered in Jesuit bankruptcy
Alberta Sena, far left, and Dorothea Skalicky, far right, listen as Leander James, center, describes the settlement in the legal case against the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province on Friday March 25, 2011, at a press conference in Spokane, Wash. Both of the women were victims of clergy sex abuse in Lapwai, Idaho.
(Full-size photo)
In one of the largest settlements of the ongoing sex abuse scandal of the Roman Catholic Church, the Jesuit order of the Northwest will pay about $166 million to more than 500 survivors, most of whom are Alaska Native or American Indian.
Under the proposed settlement The Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, also will apologize and provide pertinent records of the approximately 140 priests, brothers, nuns and lay employees accused over the span of 30 years from the 1950s to the 1980s.
In many cases, accused priests were reassigned by the order in Portland to Alaska Native villages and Indian reservations in Montana, Eastern Washington, Idaho and Oregon, according to abuse survivors and their attorneys.
“Problem priests were put on reservations,” said Dorothea Skalicky, 42, who said she was abused as a girl by a priest growing up on the Nez Perce Reservation.
Skalicky and Alberta Sena, 45, of Clarkston, both spoke at a news conference Friday in Spokane at which the settlement was announced. Skalicky sat on the negotiating panel that hammered out the settlement.
“I thought I was alone,” said Sena, who also said she was abused by a priest in Lapwai and came forward with her story after reading about the accusations against the Jesuits two years ago. “I thought of him as a father figure. I thought I would be safe, and I was not.”
The Northwest Jesuits, beset by mounting claims of abuse, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2009, after the organization already had settled about 200 claims for more than $55 million.
In 2008, the Jesuits agreed to pay $4.8 million to 16 people who said they were sexually abused as children by the Rev. John J. Morse and James Gates, a Jesuit brother, at the St. Maries Mission and School near Omak in the 1960s and 1970s.
Morse, who denied the allegations, was removed from ministry in 2006.
In 2007, the Northwest Jesuits agreed to pay $50 million to dozens of Alaska Natives who were sexually abused by priests.
Today, there are more than 500 claimants, and more than 100 of those are from Washington state. Many say they were abused at the St. Mary’s Mission on the Colville Reservation.
Many other men and women said they were abused on the Kootenai-Salish and Blackfoot reservations in Montana, the Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce reservations in Idaho and the Umatilla Reservation in Oregon.
This story is developing and will be updated.
Rights panel poorly understood 
carmster362 on March 25 at 1:04 p.m.
Minus Expenses….which I’m sure will be no more than $165 million.
eagleproducer on March 25 at 3:49 p.m.
The Catholic Church is a stain that needs to be removed from planet Earth. You can place on their collective shoulders blame for just about every problem in the modern world.
Overpopulation? Check
Global warming? Check
The current crusade in the Muslim world? Check
And on and on and on….
Al_Loysius on March 25 at 4:02 p.m.
Eag is just the latest example of anti-catholic bias going back for a couple of centuries in American History. Neo-nazis, the KKK, atheists, the Know-Nothing movement, etc. What they all have in common is a hatred of Catholics. Nothing new.
We who are Catholics know that the Church is not perfect, but when our enemies attack us, we have to respond in charity praying that their hearts can be changed.
No whitewashing here. Nobody is excusing what priests, ministers,rabbis and other leaders of religion have done. They screwed up and there have been consequences that have been visited on members of faith groups decades after the fact.
eagleproducer on March 25 at 4:17 p.m.
No whitewashing? Then why do you spend the first two paragraphs trying to do just that?
I’m offended to be placed alongside any of those groups you mentioned. The Vatican supported Hitler’s policies behind their cloister and you know it.
Please don’t pray for me. That would be more of a waste of time than praying itself.
I’ve always thought if there were a creator, it certainly wouldn’t be sitting around waiting to hear my latest pleas for assistance. If we are indeed made in “his” image, who does God pray to?
reservedparking on March 25 at 4:21 p.m.
Catholics have by no means cornered the market on overpopulation.
Catholic clergy aren’t the only ones that have faced accusations of abuse of the vulnerable.
Global warming is a Catholic issue? Since when?
selkirks on March 25 at 6:03 p.m.
@eagleproducer: CONSPIRACY! CONSPIRACY! CONSPIRACY!
I, for one, am glad to see this litigation finally wrapped up. There’s no reason to turn this into a religious debate.
Diana on March 25 at 6:05 p.m.
It’s not enough.
eagleproducer, you are spot on. For the Vatican coverup and a million other things.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 25 at 7:38 p.m.
Diana..what IS enough then?
How will money make the so called “injured” fix what’s ailing them?
Diana on March 25 at 8:07 p.m.
The “so-called injured”, Daisy? Your compassion for children who were sexually molested by trusted adults is about what I would expect from you.
Obviously your life was ruined by something other than a pedophile priest.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 25 at 8:13 p.m.
You don’t don’t answer my questions. You don’t have an answer do you?
Remember Diana…very little of these were documented. Decades and decades have gone by. Only have to go on is usually one side of the story. So what’s you answer to my questions Chunk?
Dazzeetrader11 on March 25 at 8:24 p.m.
Just as I figured. You just parrot what you see in the media. You really don’t know much about it. If you have no idea about this so called abuse…do me one thing: Define”abuse”.
What kind of abuse ..Define it.
Children? Some…do you know enough to let us know how many were 10 yrs or younger?
Did you know that there is or was little or no evidence…..just testimonials from those who stood to gain the most in terms of money?
Will money buy anyone resolution? Will money make anyone psycholigically normal or even sound?
Let’s hear from you. Perhaps you really know nothing about it. If that’s the case ( I suspect it is the case) tell me what you know. Bold statements from an airhead? Likely. No offense, you’re not alone. Cmon…speak up.
misjustice on March 25 at 8:33 p.m.
Thou shalt not show thy rod to children; nor bugger them with it.
Aww, Daisy stands up for the truely vunerable and down trodden; big insurance companies, big bidness, big oil, AVISTA, the Wallsters, the Banksters, and other down trodden entities. Little kids that were raped by priests? Not so much.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 25 at 8:37 p.m.
Do you got the answers to my questions J? Nothing to with any of your list. …I ‘d liek to know about the so called abuse of children. Let’s try to be focused.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 25 at 8:53 p.m.
Maybe eagle does……
Diana on March 25 at 8:59 p.m.
No reason to respond to your blah, blah, blah, Daisy. Don’t drive tonight.
misjustice on March 25 at 9:03 p.m.
Diana, Daisy changed her screen name because she has an exploratory team seeing how she’d do in a bid for Mayor of Spokane. Tonight she seems past the “pint of know return”…. and it’s still so early!
; )
I think that she should run; especially since she seems to have all of the answers to our woes.
Run, Daisy, Run! Our Minx Minken 4 Mayor!
misjustice on March 25 at 9:20 p.m.
Let me put it this way, Daisy, the Jesuits settled out of court to avoid a trial; they AGREED to the terms of the settlement. They also agreed to provide records of clergy and others accused of raping children. Doesn’t sound like they thought they could “win” at trial; because they knew they were guilty. They purposefully moved “bad” priests, clergy, rather than defrocking them or turning them over to law enforcement; the administrators were then complicit in the abuse, and they knew it.
Some things, like buggering little kids is wrong; just flat out wrong, no grey area, no maybe it’s wrong, NO, so wrong that there is no punishment harsh enough to met out to the perpetrators, except perhaps the death penalty. I’d say a cash settlement is a gift to those kiddie rapers because they should be in prison, and so should the administrators that shuffled them from parish to parish….
Just sayin’….
Dazzeetrader11 on March 25 at 9:22 p.m.
All this and no cogent answers? SOmehow I thought you two birds would know. It doesn’t surprise me. not so much because you both don’t know….it’s because nobody knows. There is a groundswell of all sorts of opinions against the Church but really no evidence, no data….really not much.
And yet the big mouths continue this crazy anti Catholic, anti priest garbage. Just amazes. All anyone who asks the key questions gets are some insults..as if the insulter knows better. OK…I bestowed upon both of you the chance to look smart…to give some data…and nothing from either of you. I suppose along the way somoen will be thinking “Well everyone KNOWS!” and they go on their merry way. Something for you to think about.prior to your next round of uninformed insults.
J can think. Diana seems to be a lost cause……”well everybody KNOWS!!”. Well doesn’t seem that YOU know…does it now. And yet…billious slag will flow…
I’ve asked the question to some of the “victims” before. Most said the just wanted the money! But I said “what bout all the psychological damage you complain about”??? Is that the problem or the basis for your complaints??? “No..we just want their money.” OK…uh huh..I see.
Not one case that’s been tried in court have been successful…do you know that? Not one. If I was the Church, I’d offer counseling if they wanted it. Otherwise I’d tell them to pound sand.
misjustice on March 25 at 9:32 p.m.
But, Daisy, they AGREED to the settlement. Why are you so angry if the Jesuits AGREED to a legal settlement? Settlements are legal remedies to legal actions. It’s not like the settlement is being paid from your purse.
Sorry, I don’t buy your anecdote…
Please don’t drive tonight…
greenlibertarian on March 25 at 9:34 p.m.
Wow, just when you think somebody can no lower, you have Daisy defending the Catholic Church and claiming the victims made it all up and are sueing just for the money.
Sickmaking and disgusting.
These young people, boys and girls, were raped, sodomized, sexually abused by the person they were supposed to MOST be able to trust, their priest. After complaints, the Church Hierarchy simply shifted them around, where, surprise, surprise, AGAIN there were complaints about abuse and rape of children.
I’m guessing that if Catholic, Daisy belongs to a very wealthy Parish (I used to) with SUBSTANTIAL financial obligations towards paying off this settlement, which will NEVER ATONE FOR GRIEVOUS HARM done to these victims by their Church. But Daisy absolutely resents that HER MONEY, HER PARISH has to FINALLY pay the Piper.
I went from the richest Parish in the Diocese, to one of the poorest, and guess what, God doesn’t care a whit about that.
These apologists, like Daisy, for the heinous actions of the Church will surely BURN IN HELL AS THEY SHOULD unless they atone and honestly repent. Which I doubt they will, because they are COWARDS who believe it’s perfectly fine TO SEXUALLY ABUSE AND RAPE our most vulnerable citizens, our children.
These people are VILE, and utterly un-Godly. They WILL REAP WHAT THEY HAVE SOWN and will PAY FOR IT, not just in a few measly dollars, but with their eternal lives.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 25 at 9:59 p.m.
Lots of times J, large corp agreed to pay to end things. No guilt admitted. The Church’s mission is different from most. I’ve talked to countless people in the Church who pay the freight for the mischief makers. hey don’t agree with any of this and most don’t know any of the priests..likely because the huge majority are dead…who are accused. Most of the charges go from the 40’s or 50’s through the early 80’s.
SO they pay, some lose their parrishes due to bills. I do think the mission is God and such activities. I can only imagine what logic they use.
As for YOU GREENIELIB…you launch a fine diatribe as most uninformed do when this comes up. No answers..just the predictable billious garbage without substance. To be clear though, I never did say there weren’t vicitms. What I DID say is that there is little proof of it. Were there measurable damages? Do yo know of any? Do you know anything when it comes to this? Outside of your biased halluciantions or something you read by an author or newpaper seeking readership?
Were you there? Eyewitness perhaps? It’s uncanny how people react. It’s in the extreme. But when the rubber meets the road…it’s about money rewards. Somehow money will cure anything that may have happened. I suppose it’s the American way. Nobody…no alleged victims have ever taken the offer for counseling though…just money…like that’ll fix things. Money does buy some nice things but it doesn’t buy a soul or a happy life.
SO on it goes..read the headlines…in this paper…it’s about $166 million but not much else. GREENIE…you’re kind of a repulsive miscreant…with your aberrant likes and dislikes…I’m sure someone is praying for you. Hate’s a bad thing GREENIE .
PlanB on March 25 at 10:12 p.m.
I personally would never support an organization the endorses raping children, or raping or abusing anyone. That is exactly what the catholic church has done. It was known at all levels what was going on, they covered it up, giving it tacit approval.
When is enough enough? When that organization ceases to exist.
greenlibertarian on March 25 at 10:12 p.m.
Sometimes I wish God would utilize His powers and simply smite from the face of the earth, those who are heinously evil like these Priest rapists, AND THEIR ENABLERS AND APOLOGISTS.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 25 at 10:20 p.m.
Plan B….do you know of any endorsements of what you detail? I don’t remember seeing any.
Good for you GREENIE. At least you acknolwlege God in your rant. No answer to Daisy’s questions mind you but you have a nice rant going.
greenlibertarian on March 25 at 10:57 p.m.
Nobody…no alleged victims have ever taken the offer for counseling though…just money…like that’ll fix things.
CHILD RAPING PRIESTS AND THEIR ENABLERS AND APOLOGISTS, REPENT FOR YOUR EVIL WAYS OR FACE THE MORTAL CONSEQUENCES.
Lord, hear our prayer.
selkirks on March 25 at 11:13 p.m.
The last thing that the Catholic Church has done is condone these heinous acts. To suggest so is foolhardy, ignorant, and frustratingly typical.
Are these acts wrong and disgusting? Yes. Are these acts consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church? No. Does the act of a small fraction of a larger whole justify condemnation of the entire Church? No. Do I justify those acts by continuing to be Catholic? No.
That’s why I’ll continue to be Catholic. Even though the comments that will inevitably follow my post will probably reply and lambast me for it.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 26 at 12:00 a.m.
SORRY GREENIE…counseling offered. N o guilt admissions.
Just help as one might expect from the Church. You’re a bit carried away son. You need to understand something: Look as far and wide as you can, you’ll find no case and no admission of guilt.
There are reasons for that.
Catholics are a very loving, caring people. They don’t blow up buildings, they don’t hurt children..nothing of the sort.
Incredibly charitable.
Greenie…grow a brain and save some time. It’s about money…not about guilt. Not about counseling…it’s about the money. You’ll find nothing. Your hate is consuming you. You’ve been suckered into reading and believing. Always gather your own evidence.
greenlibertarian on March 26 at 12:49 a.m.
Your kind of Catholic is what will kill the Church, Dazed. Sorry, some of us who know the truth will not let APOLOGISTS FOR THE ABUSERS, like you, do that.
You said NO “alleged” victims (again in denial) had chosen counseling over money, and I PROVED YOU WRONG!
The Church will only redeem itself and prosper when the likes of you and your ilk are PURGED permanently. You are a cancer upon The Church. None of your filthy lucre tithed will save your lost souls, sans genuine repentance, remorse, and seeking forgiveness.
I would suggest Ex-Communication for all you Catholic clergy child abusers and ENABLERS (and life in prison without possibility of parole) and APOLOGISTS.
May they rot in hell.
eagleproducer on March 26 at 9:32 a.m.
selkirks: Define “condone.” My dictionary entry goes as follows: “accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue.”
That is exactly what the Catholic Church admitted to in this settlement.
Dazee treats the Church as a corporate entity, lets say The Whore of Rome Inc., and thinks this is just a way for them to make better press and get on with the good they do around the globe. She and anyone who continues to spew the line of obfuscation for the abusers of millions of children through the centuries deserve to continue swiping their debit cards prior to entering the Holy Sepulcher.
Pathetic.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 26 at 9:48 a.m.
Eags and Greenie…both of you are certifiable.
Chruch admits nothing……Jesuits are paying for some mischief. What it was is and will remain poorly defined.