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Bankruptcy Judge Approves Diocese Sexual Abuse Settlement

Diocese to pay $20 million to 86 people who said they were sexually assaulted by clergy

By Molly Priddy

BILLINGS — A federal bankruptcy judge approved a plan for the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings to pay $20 million to 86 people who said they were sexually assaulted by clergy when they were children.

The Billings Gazette reports the plan was approved Tuesday in Butte.

Officials with Tamaki Law Offices say the diocese’s chief financial officer, Richard Moog, testified the diocese is paying $5 million, parishes are paying $4 million and $2 million is coming from the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Montana. The diocese’s insurer will pay $8 million and another $1 million comes from St. Labre Indian School.

The eastern Montana diocese filed for bankruptcy in March 2017 after the claims were filed over abuse that happened between 1943 and 1993.

The Diocese of Helena filed for bankruptcy in early 2014 and settled 360 claims for $21 million.