Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese Tab For Sex Abuse Scandal Tops $19M

Pittsburgh PA

03 December, 2020

1:49 PM

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PITTSBURGH, PA — An independent mediator has awarded more than $19 million in Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh funs to victims and survivors of 224 cases of diocesan clergy sexual abuse. The diocese announced Thursday that the Kenneth Feinberg Group has completed its administration of the diocesan Independent and Reconciliation Program. The initiative was launched in December 2018 to respond to allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. That was four months after a grand jury identified more than 300 predator priests in six Pennsylvania dioceses, 99 of whom were from Pittsburgh. At the time, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro accused Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik and his predecessor, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, of covering up the crimes. Both men denied that charge. "My heart continues to grieve for the victims of childhood sexual abuse, especially those abuse by clergy - the very people who were ordained to guide them to a life of holiness," Zubik said Thursday in a release. "It is my prayer that this compensation will provide support that victims-survivors need on their path toward healing." Zubik noted that no money awarded by the mediator came from parishes or schools or the Campaign for the Church Alive. The funds were obtained from the sale of historical diocesan assets such as the St. Joseph Protectory property; insurance reserves and the closure of the Downtown pastoral center.