(image:  St. John the Baptist by Br Lawrence Lew O.P.)

Ann McGlynn of the Quad City Times reports on the most recent priest sex abuse settlement Complex matrix to help determine diocese payouts here. 

You'll note that in both of today's settlements, there are non-monetary "justice" terms by which the defendants agree to provide direct means of emotional satisfaction to the injured parties.  

In the priest sex abuse case, the diocese has not only agreed to provide counseling to survivors (non-monetary restitution) but also to "giv[e] survivors a chance to address the parish in which their case of abuse occurred"  (an act of atonement and restorative justice).  That old standby revenge (retributive justice) has also been included in the diocese's settlement -- each parish agreeing to publish the names of all known abusers.    

The University of Colorado settlement includes what a friend of mine calls a "living amends."  As I understand a "living amends," the reptentent party not only makes restitution to the best of his/her ability, but also agrees to take (or refrain from taking) some activities in the future for the purpose of enacting the apology. 

In the Colorado case, the University "agreed to hire an adviser to monitor compliance with federal laws governing equal treatment of women and add a position in the university's Office of Victim Assistance."  That's a "living amends," atonement and restorative justice.

Below, as promised, an excerpt from the Quad Cities report of the priest sex abuse settlement. 

The diocese and its insurance company, Travelers, reached a settlement last week with the committee representing the 156 sex abuse claimants in the diocese bankruptcy. It totals

$37 million.

The settlement includes non-monetary agreements, including the diocese agreeing to provide counseling for all victims, giving survivors a chance to address the parish in which their case of abuse occurred and publishing the names of all known abusers.

And while some Catholic organizations may pay toward the settlement, it also releases all from liability.

Davenport joined four other dioceses — in Tucson, San Diego, Spokane and Portland, Ore. — in filing for bankruptcy. It filed in October 2006 after Michl Uhde of Davenport won a $1.5 million jury verdict for abuse he suffered at the hands of the now-dead Monsignor Thomas Feeney. The diocese was set to go to trial on a second case shortly after it filed for bankruptcy protection.

It has already paid more than $10 million in settlements to 45 victims