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September 26, 2002 FADICA President Praises Baltimore Cardinal’s Disclosure/Calls Action a Model for Nation’s Dioceses Washington, DC ----- Cardinal William Keeler’s public accounting of the financial expenditures of the Baltimore Archdiocese stemming from child sexual abuse by clergy since 1987 was praised by FADICA’s president, Francis J. Butler, as “a wonderful, courageous example for all the nation’s Catholic dioceses.” In a letter to the Cardinal following the Archdiocese September 26th press conference, Dr. Butler said that if the Cardinal’s action presaged the direction of other dioceses, “a new and welcomed level of financial accountability and transparency seems to be in the offing,” he said. Cardinal Keeler disclosed that his Archdiocese and its insurers have spent more than $5.6 million in the last 20 years on legal settlements, counseling and other measures connected with child sexual abuse by clergy. The Cardinal disclosed that $4.1 million of the total amount was covered by insurance companies. To date some 26 dioceses have released some financial information disclosing $106 million dollars in legal settlements. In May, the president of the Catholic bishops’ national conference, Bishop Wilton D. Gregory disclosed that his diocese in Belleville, Illinois paid out $3.1 million for legal settlements and counseling over the past decade. Last June the FADICA organization asked Bishop Gregory, as national president of the U.S. bishops, to report publicly on the financial aspects of the crisis over the past two decades. Bishop Gregory is expected to bring the matter before the entire hierarchy November 11-14 in Washington, DC. This fall the FADICA organization has contracted with the Gallup Polling organization to conduct a national survey of parish Catholics to determine the impact of the clergy abuse crisis on the decision surrounding church contributions. “Church leaders have invited the laity to participate fully in the work of the church by embracing the notion of stewardship,” said Dr. Butler. “It is great to see that leaders like you, Cardinal Keeler, are giving convincing witness to stewardship through your policy of candor and accountability,” he said. |