Bp J. Peter Sartain of Joliet off to Seattle to be youngest U.S. archbishop.
Sartain said dealing with the clergy sexual abuse scandal will be one of his challenges in Western Washington.
The Seattle archdiocese has paid about $42 million in settlements, counseling and attorneys fees to about 300 victims over the past 23 years, with about 70 percent of the money paid by insurance companies.
On Thursday, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) criticized Sartain for ordaining a priest last year who[m] Catholic officials allegedly caught with pornography on his computer a few months earlier. In January, Sartain removed the priest as parochial vicar at a parish after a boy accused the priest of sexually abusing him. The priest pleaded guilty to sexual abuse and was sentenced this month to four years in prison.
Sartain said Thursday he couldnt comment on the case.
What I have tried to do and will continue to try to do is to be very vigilant in the preparation of our priests and likewise very open to the suffering of victims, whether theyre recent or many, many years ago, he said. I will be available to meet with victims and their families because thats, I think, a very important, direct part of the process of healing that needs to take place.
Good luck.
Blithe Spirit 