Archdiocese in Iowa to Settle 20 Abuse Cases

WATERLOO, Iowa — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque has agreed to pay $5 million to settle 20 cases of sexual abuse involving nine priests over the last five decades, church officials said Tuesday.

The settlement was reached during mediation just weeks before the first of several trials was to begin.

The archdiocese also agreed to publish the names of the nine accused priests and give each victim the chance to meet privately with Archbishop Jerome Hanus and the opportunity to speak about their ordeal in their home parishes.

Victims praised the deal. “I feel very liberated today,” said Debbie Gindhart, 57, who now lives in Indianapolis but was molested by a priest when she was growing up in Waterloo.

Victims’ attorneys would not say how the money would be divided, other than that each award would be based on the nature and extent of abuse and effect on survivors.