Archdiocese settles priest abuse cases

DENVER, July 2 (UPI) -- A $5.5 million settlement of 18 sexual abuse cases of young parisioners by priests has been announced by the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver.

The cases against three now deceased priests occurred between 1954 and 1981, The Denver Post reported Wednesday. Since August 2005, the archdiocese has settled out of court 36 lawsuits and seven other claims totaling about $8.3 million.

"We cannot undo the sins and failures of the past or the suffering they have caused," Archbishop Charles Chaput said at a Tuesday news conference. "I would like to express the sadness of all of us in the church that this happened."

But several of the victims of priests suggested the archdiocese covered up for abusers for years, allowing the actions to continue even when youths came forward.

"Going to the archdiocese was extremely scary," said Brandon Trask, 52. "I asked them, 'What did you know, when did you know it and what did you do about it?' Their answer was: 'We can't tell, we can't tell, we can't tell.' "