Claims process opens for victims of clergy sex abuse
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Victims of child sexual abuse by clergy in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia can begin filing claims as part of a victim compensation fund.
Claims administrators said Tuesday they sent 342 packets to survivors who had previously reported credible allegations.
They say the archdiocese has committed to pay accepted claims, there is no appeal process and there is no cap on the fund or the amount individual victims can receive. Victims have to waive their rights to sue the archdiocese in the future to accept offers.
MORE: Pennsylvania priests molested over 1,000 children, per report | Key dates in the Pennsylvania church abuse scandal
Victims must register claims by July 31 and file them by Sept. 30.
Pennsylvania's dioceses started announcing details about victim compensation funds last week, nearly three months after a sweeping grand jury report documented decades of child sexual abuse by priests in six dioceses.
For the full grand jury report, see here.
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