BOSTON -- The Boston Archdiocese could avoid trial under a tentative settlement it has reached with dozens of people who claim they were molested by a priest.
Cardinal Bernard Law's attorney said the Roman Catholic archdiocese and alleged sex abuse victims of John Geoghan have reached a provisional $10 million settlement, according to The Associated Press.
"Tentative is the operative word," archdiocese attorney J. Owen Todd said of the deal negotiated.
The deal was struck before a judge planned to rule on the validity of a previous settlement worth up to $30 million. The archdiocese backed out of that deal in May when its finance council rejected it. The new offer has been approved by the finance council, Todd said.
Details of the tentative settlement were not released. Eighty-six plaintiffs, including 70 who were allegedly abused by Geoghan, have sued the archdiocese.
