Archdiocese Plea Agreement Creates Fund For Abuse Victims

WCPO.com/November 20, 2003
By Liz Foreman

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is creating a $3 million fund to compensate people who were abused by clergy or other employees of the Archdiocese.

The fund has been set up as part of a settlement between the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The church pleaded no contest to four misdemeanor charges Thursday, setting a precedent as the first U.S. Catholic church organization to be convicted of a crime.

The fund will be administered by a three-member panel -- one member appointed by the Archdiocese, one member by the Hamilton County prosecutor's office and a third member by the other two members.

Compensation will be available to any victim who is not suing the Archdiocese, regardless of how long ago the abuse took place.

The fund is expected to be in operation by 2004.