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  2 Brothers Settle Abuse Case for over $1 Million

Seattle Post-Intelligencer
April 1, 2006

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/265207_priest01.html

Two brothers who accused former Seattle priest John Cornelius of repeatedly molesting them as teenagers during the 1970s have settled their case against the Seattle Archdiocese for more than $1 million.

The brothers had planned to go to trial against the archdiocese in June. Similar charges they made against the diocese of Boise, Idaho, and the Order of the Sulpicians -- both of which hosted Cornelius -- remain unresolved and scheduled for court.

"What's interesting about the case is Cornelius went from Boise to the Sulpician seminary to the Seattle Archdiocese and, despite knowledge that he was a problem, nobody took steps to address it," said Michael Pfau, a lawyer who represented the brothers.

Cornelius has since been defrocked by the Vatican.

"For us, this was the end of an attempt to bring closure and healing to the victims," said Greg Magnoni, a spokesman for the Seattle Archdiocese. "It's our hope that they accept our apology and this settlement as an opportunity for closure."

 
 

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