With some claims dating back to the mid-1930s, a “global mediation” settlement that will last for a week is scheduled to begin in Seattle, Washington on April 15^th.  The mediation hearings involve more than 360 plaintiffs in two class action lawsuits against the diocese of Helena and the Ursuline Sisters in Helena, Montana.

Most of the claims are from the 1950s through 1970s, and if mediation is successful, the diocese could avoid bankruptcy.  In addition, successful mediation of the class action claims could mean that the settlement would reach the pockets of the claimants, themselves, rather than attorneys representing them in litigation.  For these reasons, most who will be participating are hopeful that the mediation process will resolve the disputes.  

Bishop George Thomas has agreed to open all of the financial records of the diocese and reveal information from the accused priests’ files.  With these transparent concessions showing the diocese’s willingness to be open about the accusations, he hopes that claimants will be able to work with the diocese and Ursuline Sisters to resolve the lawsuits on their own without taking the claims to court. 

Timothy Kosnoff, an attorney who is representing 270 of the 360 plaintiffs said that the diocese deserves credit for "not taking a liability defense approach" and choosing to focus on "what actually happened, the nature of the [alleged] abuse, and the immediate and long-term impact of it."

Bishop Thomas is confident that the steps he has taken to resolve the matter will allow the diocese to turn its attention to “the pastoral care of souls" instead litigation and legal struggles. "I have had people who recognized me on the street come up to me and say, 'Thank you, bishop,' " he said.  The Bishop has also offered to meet with the claimants “any time, any place” to talk with them about their spiritual or emotional struggle due to the abuse that occurred.