Archdiocese has paid out $1.6 million in settlements

ST. LOUIS -- Believing it was cheaper to settle some cases than fight them in court, the Archdiocese of St. Louis said it has paid about $1.6 million over the past 20 years to alleged victims of sex crimes by priests.

"The rationale is to assist people who have brought complaints," said Bernard C. Huger, a lawyer for the archdiocese. "And in some cases, settlements were made even if the claim was considered not to be substantiated."

But church officials said most of the claims were substantiated. Huger said the archdiocese calculated the settlements based on estimated costs, primarily for medical and counseling bills. Church officials refused to say how many cases were settled.

"There was only a decision made to release the total costs to the church," Huger said.

The archdiocese recorded no settlements before 1982, he said.

During the settlements, the recipients of the money typically agreed to not discuss the cases, officials said. Archdiocese spokeswoman Terry Edelmann said the cases were kept confidential to protect privacy.

David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said he would like to see more disclosures by the church. He questioned the amount of money that church officials said was spent on the abuse cases.

"I wish I could believe that this is an honest figure," Clohessy said. "Historically, officials in this archdiocese have been less than honest. So, any prudent person would be skeptical of this figure."

Last fiscal year, the Archdiocese of St. Louis spent about $180 million on various local programs, church officials said.

The disclosure came after weeks of controversy surrounding allegations of sexual abuse by priests in the Roman Catholic Church. The accusations have led to the fall of the head of the Palm Beach, Fla., Diocese and the removal of two priests in the St. Louis diocese, two in the Jefferson City diocese and dozens of others throughout the nation.