"The agreement reached by the archdiocese of Los Angeles about paying compensation to a large number of victims of sexual abuse by priests, religious people and lay people of the archdiocese, which had occurred over the past decades, is a piece of news that has understandably attracted lots of attention because of the high number of cases and because of the high figure of such compensation. But, as stated by cardinal Mahony taking inspiration from what was said on several occasions by John Paul II and Benedict XVI the Church is, first and foremost, saddened by the sufferings of the victims and their families, by the deep wounds caused by the heavy, inexcusable behaviour of several of its members, and is determined to do all it can to prevent such foul deeds ever occurring again". This was stated today by father Federico Lombardi, director of the Newsroom of the Holy See, after the news of the compensation that the archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay to the 508 victims of sexual abuse. (continued).
