Historic Settlement Reached
In a landmark decision, the Catholic Church will pay 104 million Canadian dollars ($76 million) to hundreds of victims of sexual abuse in eastern Canada. This follows a statement released on Friday confirming the settlement.
Decades of abuse unveiled
In 2020, the Archdiocese of St. John was found liable for one of Canada’s largest child sex abuse scandals at Mount Cashel Orphanage, a now-defunct boys’ orphanage in Newfoundland and Labrador province. The court’s findings revealed that priests and other church officials perpetrated sexual abuse at the orphanage starting in 1940 and continuing over several decades.
Compensation for victims
A total of 292 victims will receive payouts ranging from 55,000 to 850,000 Canadian dollars, according to a report seen by AFP. Ernst & Young, an accounting firm, has been appointed as a third-party intermediary to determine the distribution of funds to each victim.
Geoff Budden, an attorney representing the victims, remarked on the compensation amount, stating it was in line with “similar compensation from other courts.” Budden added, “People didn’t really grasp the scale of the problem and how widespread the abuse was.”
Financial strain on the Archdiocese
The Archdiocese of St. John declared bankruptcy in 2021. However, it has managed to raise 40 million Canadian dollars through the sale of its properties. Despite this financial strain, Budden remains optimistic that the victims will receive the full amount awarded by the court.
This historic settlement marks a significant step towards justice for the victims of one of Canada’s most notorious child sex abuse scandals.