Priests Seek Donations to Pay Sexual-Abuse Claims

In an effort to overcome the financial fallout from the clergy sex-abuse scandal and shore up their bankrupt diocese, some Roman Catholic priests in Washington State are issuing urgent pleas to their parishioners for money, reports the Associated Press.

“I’ve been telling them the focus here is on the children who were hurt and doing what we can to bring them some sort of compensation, some sort of healing,” said Rev. Edgar Borchardt, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Pullman, Wash.

Home to Bishop William Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Pullman diocese is the smallest and poorest of five nationwide that have sought bankruptcy protection against clergy sex-abuse lawsuits.

Mr. Skylstad is himself raising an additional $6-million toward the bankruptcy settlement, and Catholic agencies, such as cemeteries, children’s homes, and charities, are being asked to contribute another $6.5-million.

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