Abuse Victim Agrees to Defer Most of $1.7 Million Settlement

Joseph Curry, a victim of priest abuse, has settled a lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington for $1.7 million and has agreed to defer $1.63 million until the diocese bankruptcy is resolved, in an effort for all abuse victims to be financially compensated.

The case was headed to the New Castle County Superior Court before it was settled.  

Tom Crumplar, attorney for Curry, said that his client agreed to the stipulation only if the diocese does "the right thing" by paying victims $1.2 million each on average, a bargain that was allegedly made by the now deceased Bishop Michael Saltarelli.

Saltarelli promised Crumplar that he would "execute on the judgment" so that the entire sum would come from the parish.  

But diocese attorney, Tony Flynn, has expressed skepticism about Crumplar's statement.  He said, "Bishop Saltarelli never pledged to pay any specific amount to survivors."

Though disappointed that his adoptive parents weren't alive today so see his vindication, Curry thanked Crumplar, other attorneys Joseph Benson and Andrew Ahern, as well as the legislators in Delaware that passed the Child Victims Act - an act that cleared the way for him to file the lawsuit.

The attorney for the St. Dennis Parish in Galena, Md., Mark Reardon, has stated that the parish has acknowledged that Curry was a victim of clergy abuse.  They plan on issuing a formal apology.  He said, "The reasons for the settlement boiled down to Mr. Curry's case being a clear demonstration of the kind of tragedy that can result from childhood sexual abuse."

Carley had been accused of repeated abuse, on hundreds of occasions, between 1981 and 1986.  Curry was 10 when the abuse began - working to become an altar boy - and 16 when it ended.

Curry was told to tie up Carley's vestments, and read the Bible, while he was being molested.  Carley threatened Curry that he would be taken away from his family and sent straight to hell if he told his parents, or anyone, what the two were engaged in.

The damage caused to Curry's psyche caused him to seek relief in both drugs and alcohol.  He also has issues with anger and depression, failed at two marriages and has spent time committing petty criminal acts.

In 1994 Curry told both the church officials and his parents about the years of abuse he had endured.  At which time, the diocese promised that they would investigate the charges.

Court documents show that Carley admitted to abusing Curry.  Remarkably, per Crumplar, no one in the church shared this information with Curry or his parents.  The church also did not come forward to address the cost of Curry's treatment.

Instead, it is contended by Crumplar, that the church officials allowed the community to ostracize the Curry family.

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