The Archdiocese of Santa Fe yesterday filed its long-awaited plan of bankruptcy reorganization to compensate nearly 400 clergy abuse survivors with more than $121 million, with an additional $4 million promised by the Servants of the Paraclete, which ran a national treatment center that funneled dozens of offenders into New Mexico Catholic parishes and schools, the Albuquerque Journal reported. Six insurers will pay $46.5 million of the $121.5 million negotiated amount, with the remaining $75 million contribution by the archdiocese, which has put more than $69 million into an escrow account, with a $5.4 million promissory note that must be paid in full by March 31. In addition, the Paraclete and three religious orders that have been sued in state court for clergy abuse will contribute an additional $7.85 million. The archdiocese’s contribution is considered to be among the largest settlements paid by an archdiocese in the country. The plan comes nearly four years after the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy reorganization to try to resolve mounting abuse claims and stem financial losses that date back to the early 1990s. At the time, the archdiocese was facing about 36 lawsuits.
