Catholic Charity?

Looks like Catholic Charities might have to reconsider it's Adoption Options, if they want to pay off their debt to some American children.  According to new reports, a landmark $660 million settlement has been negotiated between the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and more than 500 alleged victims of clergy abuse. (LA church settlement goes to courtroom)

The formal statement made by the LA Archdiocese starts with the following: 

from: la-archdiocese.org

STATEMENT ON GLOBAL SETTLEMENT OF OUTSTANDING CIVIL LAWSUITS

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony
Archbishop of Los Angeles
July 15, 2007:

"After much prayer, time, and effort by all of the parties involved, I am able to announce to you today that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has reached an agreement in principle with attorneys representing clergy sexual abuse victims in the 508 civil cases that remain filed against us.

While there is still work to be done to finalize the formal agreement, I believe that this agreement in principle represents a significant step toward final resolution of all of the sexual abuse claims filed against the Archdiocese these past few years.

The funding for the global settlement will be shared by the Archdiocese, Insurance Companies, various Religious Orders, and other named parties. I am grateful to the several Religious Orders which have stepped forward to take financial responsibility for cases in which their priests or brothers were accused. However, some Religious Orders and other defendants have declined to participate in the global settlement, and therefore, will be excluded from it. "

How in the world will they pay this off if the leaders of Catholic Charities nit-pick over adoptive parent standards and keep creating all sorts of  controversies? 

Perhaps a letter written to our UK Friends may help fund the reward settlement victims of sexual abuse will finally get to share amongst themselves.  Clearly, money talks more than words and promises to "Do the right thing", right?

http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/cn/07/070131b.htm  "Catholic adoption agencies are still very much in business. As widely documented over the past weeks, our services are in demand and greatly valued."

In fact, it seems The Pope is getting more creative with moral options than we thought: Embryo Adoption.

Whew!  Well, I'm just glad that law-suit nightmare is almost over for all those children abused by Fathers and Brothers. 

Good Lord, all this news sure makes a girl think:  when will a mother be allowed to protect her own flesh and blood, and not get raped by opportunists?