"Beyond Words" Diocese abuse survivors continue to struggle

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN)....A devout Catholic Anne Marie Dempsey cherished going to church.

But, then as a child she became a sexual abuse victim.

"I lost my faith," Dempsey said. :"I stopped going to church."

Dempsey is one of 850 registered sexual abuse victims who filed claims against the Diocese of Buffalo.

Dempsey was one of six members of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors - aka sexual abuse victims - who, on Monday, were authorized by the U.S. Trustees office to talk with the media

The others were: Richard Brownell, Scott Yerger, Peter Starks, Howard Zwelling and Ruth MacAlister

. Because of a myriad of factors including ongoing negotiations members of the committee that was part of settlement team were precluded from talking with the media.

Negotiations took more than six years.

"This has been a long haul for the survivors" said Buffalo attorney Steve Boyd, who represents many of the abuse victims.

The Diocese of Buffalo has agreed to a record $326 million settlement package with the 850 registered victims, with the Diocese, its parishes and schools paying $150 million and more than two dozen insurance companies chipping in the remaining $176 million.

But, the money is only one part of the equation.

Ruth MacAlister, another committee member, says she wants something else.

"An apology, but I know that will never come," MacAlister said.

Attorney Dan Chiacchia says even decades later, the impact of the abuse lingers - in some cases more prominent than in other instances.

"They are still traumatized beyond words," Chiacchia said. "Everything still hangs over their heads."

Chiacchia, like Boyd, represents many of the victims.

"The settlement does bring some measure of closure," Chiacchia said.

Even now, after all the litigation and publicity, the survivors say they are less than pleased that the Diocese has been relatively mum on addressing the issue.

"The church is remiss for not standing up," Richard Brownell said. "No one really knows just how much stress we are under."