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Sex Abuse Cases Against Portland Archdiocese Set for Court

Some 128 sex abuse charges filed against the Portland Archdiocese are heading to court after church officials and alleged victims failed to reach a settlement agreement by the April 17 deadline. Forty of the cases will be heard in state court, and the remaining 88 will be heard in federal court, according to the Associated Press.

The Portland Archdiocese was the first in the nation to declare bankruptcy because of damages awarded to victims of sexual abuse by priests. The archdiocese has already spent more than $53 million in settlements to victims of priest sex abuse.

Catholic News Service estimates that the cost of clerical sexual abuse to the Catholic Church is over $1.5 billion so far, according to Catholic Online, but some experts believe the cumulative cost is significantly higher.

Sources:

Associated Press 4/18/06; Catholic Online 4/18/06

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