The Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena in western Montana will soon ask a bankruptcy judge to approve a key settlement with its insurance carriers that will be used to compensate about 380 individuals who allege they were sexually abused by clergy members, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. According to a legal notice released on Thursday, a $10.9 million settlement with six insurance carriers would be used to fund a proposed $15 million compensation package. In exchange, the insurance carriers would receive immunity from any future lawsuits related to the abuse claims. Ford Elsaesser, an attorney for the diocese, said Friday that the church would formally ask Bankruptcy Judge Terry Myers for approval of the settlement within a matter of days.
