The settlement reached on Thursday is a provisional settlement to set a value to the claim of abuse. It is subject to review and approval by the Bankruptcy Court. The Diocesan insurance carriers were not part of this settlement and did not approve it. Their respective positions on the provisional settlement will be addressed before the Bankruptcy Court, therefore, this case remains on the trial calendar. If it is not approved by the Bankruptcy Court, the judge has indicated that it will be on the trial calendar tentatively to begin on February 23, 2026.
The Diocese does not dispute that abuse occurred and our offer to walk with survivors remains. The Diocese agreed to this settlement out of sensitivity for the impact a trial could have on the survivor and their family. If a survivor finds healing in sharing their story, it should be on their terms and not dictated via the testimony of a court process. We are sorry that anyone was abused at the hands of anyone, including someone they should have been able to trust in the church.
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