Three Colorado Catholic dioceses will reportedly pay 73 survivors of child sex abuse by Catholic priests a total of $6.68 million, according to a recent report.

The money will come from the Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program that went into effect in October of 2019. Under the program, survivors of child sex abuse perpetrated by priests in three Colorado Catholic dioceses, the Archdiocese of Denver, Diocese of Colorado Springs, and Diocese of Pueblo, can file a claim.

According to the Associated Press, 90 total claims were made since the reparations program was initiated. Eight claims were reportedly rejected and another eight are still pending. AP reports that some of the pending claims still need to be investigated by law enforcement.

“Of the 81 eligible claimants, some were previously unknown abuse survivors, demonstrating success in reaching survivors previously unwilling or unable to come forward and receive help,” a spokesperson for the program said in a statement.

The Colorado Sun reports that the claims process is closed, and any remaining pending claims should be resolved within the next few months.

Colorado’s Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program

The reparations program stemmed from an investigation into abusive priests in Colorado that reportedly revealed that at least 43 priests abused hundreds of children since 1950. The months-long investigation also revealed that it generally took decades for the Catholic Church to take action to stop a priest who was accused of sexually abusing a child, according to the Colorado Sun.

The program reportedly allowed survivors of child sex abuse by Colorado priests to make a claim that would be reviewed by an Independent Oversight Committee.

“In Colorado, we developed a unique, collaborative, and transparent program to address sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests,” stated Colorado’s Attorney General in a press release at the time. “For those victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests, this effort will aim to provide a recognition of past wrongdoing, provide needed compensation, and offer an opportunity for healing”

In the wake of the recent announcement that Colorado Catholic dioceses will payout millions under the program, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila issued a letter to the archdioceses.

“I know that money cannot fully heal the wounds you suffered but hope that those of you who came forward felt heard, acknowledged — and that the reparations offer a measure of justice and access to resources,” stated the letter.

Aquila also noted that the claims submitted over the past year concerned allegations of abuse that occurred over two decades ago. The archbishop also stated that, although the claims process had ended, the church continues to offer services to victims.

The reparations program, said Aquila in his letter, “continues to remind us that we can never be complacent, that evil lurks in all corners of our society, and that we must always work to stamp out those who wish to do harm and violate the trust of our children. This work has undoubtedly reaffirmed our resolve to do everything we can to protect children in our church and beyond.”

Should Survivors File a Claim?

While compensating survivors of sexual abuse by priests is laudable, some critics say that reparations programs are problematic. Survivors may be able to obtain more compensation if they pursue legal action than under some of these compensation programs; however, participation in these programs often requires survivors to give up their right to file a lawsuit.

Additionally, some states have revised their sexual abuse laws, giving those who were abused as children additional time to file lawsuits against the perpetrator, as well as the institutions that failed to protect them as children.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.