After six years of litigation and three attempts at mediation, victims of Catholic clergy sex abuse in Eastern Montana have reached a settlement with the church, the <em>Billings Gazette</em> reported. The tentative $20 million agreement with the Great Falls-Billings Diocese was announced Friday by the diocese and two law firms representing the victims. The bankruptcy judge and the victims still must approve the settlement. The claims cover allegations of sexual abuse between the 1940s and 1980s at ministries throughout the eastern half of the state, from the St. Labre Indian School on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation to the small town of Absarokee. A year ago the diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to negotiate a settlement. In March, the diocese moved to dismiss its bankruptcy case, saying that negotiations had reached an impasse and continuing legal costs were draining the resources it had to fund a settlement. To fund the settlement, the church will use bishop assets and money from its insurance carrier, Catholic Mutual Insurance. The insurance coverage started in 1974 and covers just 22 of the claims.
