CSA RC Church Cover-Up (USA)

A $12 Million class action settlement involving the victims of priest abuse hit a major delay. A fairness hearing took place in St. George on Friday.

During the hearing the victims attorneys accused the Catholic church of covering up past abuse. They say they have a document to prove it. The victims' attorney alleges the document originated in Rome and dates back to 1962, called Crimens Solicitationes.

Attorneys representing the victms allege the document covers up priest abuse and was kept in a "secret archive" at the church.

Attorneys representing the Diocese of Charleston disagree, and say the document did not come from the Charleston diocese.

Still,the Judge Diane Goodstein decided to turn the papers over to the Dorchester County Solicitor's Office.

It delayed the settlement and has victims waiting for an answer.

They stand together, a band of brothers who were all abused by a priest as children. Shawn McDonald said, "When I see a priest, I see Father Goodwin."

McDonald was 8 years-old when he says the abuse began. He can't get over it.

Just the sight of the church is too much to bear. McDonald said, "My girlfriend's like, 'Don't look over there. Don't look.' I look at the same room where I was molested, where my brother and I were molested at the same time by this sick man."

McDonald and his three brothers attended a fairness hearing Friday for a $12 Million settlement with the Catholic Diocese of Charleston.

The settlement breaks victims into two categories. Those abused by an agent of the church and the spouses and parents of those abused. McDonald said, "It's a living nightmare. Every day, every single day."

The amount received depends on the degree of each victim's abuse. Yet, McDonald and his brothers say the church should pay, but no amount of money can erase the past.

McDonald, his brothers and several other victims I talked with say there were upset the majority of today's hearing focused on attorney fees.

Once the judge makes a decision, a notice will be made available through the media.

Victims who were abused as minors with a birthdate on or before August 30, 1980 will then have 120 days to come forward if they want to take part in the settlement.

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