Catholic Church Pays Sexual Abuse Settlement in CA, Removes Priest in WA

In a win for victims of clergy abuse, the Archdiocese of San Francisco reached a settlement Friday in the case against Joseph Pritchard for abuse committed while he was a priest at St. Martin of Tours in San Jose. The archdiocese will pay $16 million to 12 people who were sexually abused by Pritchard in the 1970s.

Just last month, the Archdiocese of San Francisco agreed to pay $21 million to 15 abuse victims in another settlement, with 10 of the victims in this case also abused by Pritchard. One lawsuit is still pending against Pritchard, and the Catholic Church still faces a host of lawsuits against other priests in both San Francisco and Oakland.

In Seattle, Archbishop Alexander Brunett announced Monday that the Vatican has approved the removal of yet another priest for committing child sexual abuse. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith has agreed to the removal of James Gandrau, a retired Seattle priest and editor of the Catholic Northwest Progress, according to the Associated Press.

Media Resources: The Associated Press 7/11/05; Seattle Post Intelligencer 7/12/05; San Francisco Gate 7/10/05; Mercury News 7/9/05

© Feminist Majority Foundation, publisher of Ms. magazine

If you liked this story, consider making a tax-deductible donation to support Ms. magazine.