Archdiocese Ponders Legality of Damage Caps

By Sherry Black
May 29, 2002

(AgapePress) - The Boston Archdiocese is exploring a legal cap on damages in the sex abuse scandal rocking the Roman Catholic Church.

According to the Dallas Morning News, the ultimate cost of the priest sex scandal for the Boston Archdiocese could depend on how the courts interpret a Massachusetts law putting a $20,000 cap on judgments against charitable organizations like the church.

It remains unclear whether the cap, if applicable, means $20,000 for each victim, or $20,000 for each instance of sexual abuse against the victim.

Past rulings have found that charities are protected only for activities that are central to their charitable mission so it remains to be seen whether the church's handling of priests accused of sexually molesting children falls into that category.

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