These guys manage God's bank account (something Fallwell never forgave them for).

Quote of note:

The settlement will be paid without bankrupting the diocese or requiring any of its 56 parishes to be closed, church officials said.

Maria Schinderle, general counsel for the diocese, said the sale of some property, as well as cash reserves, staff cuts and loans secured with church assets would raise the funds for the diocese's share of the settlement. The one major piece of property that is not a parish or school and is eligible to be sold is the diocese's 17-acre headquarters in Orange.

O.C. Diocese Settles Abuse Cases
The Roman Catholic Church reaches a deal with 87 plaintiffs. The undisclosed amount, reportedly a record, could affect L.A. talks.
By Jean Guccione, William Lobdell and Megan Garvey
Times Staff Writers

December 3, 2004

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange agreed Thursday to settle claims by 87 people who said they were sexually abused by priests and other church employees, promising a sum that sources said would exceed the $85 million record payment by an American diocese.

The specifics of the settlement were not disclosed under the terms of a court-imposed gag order. Some details remain to be worked out, according to a statement issued by both sides.

The record settlement is likely to influence the money that may be paid to thousands of plaintiffs in pending cases in Los Angeles and elsewhere.

Bishop of Orange Tod D. Brown called the agreement "both fair and compassionate." He said he planned to write a letter to each victim "personally seeking forgiveness and reconciliation."

"We will be able to fairly compensate the victims in a way that allows our church to continue its ministry of service to the entire community," Brown said immediately after the announcement shortly after 11 p.m. at the civil courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.