In an unusual move, the bishop of San Diego is asking for help in paying a huge settlement to sex abuse victims in his diocese — and he’s asking his priests to chip in.

From the San Diego Union:

Priests in the Diocese of San Diego are being asked to donate a month’s salary as part of a campaign to help fund the recent $198.1 million settlement to childhood sexual abuse victims.

“We cannot ask of others what we are unwilling to do ourselves,” wrote San Diego Catholic Bishop Robert Brom in a memo sent this week to about 280 priests. A month’s salary ranges from $1,535 for pastors to $1,485 for associate pastors.

In addition, letters will be sent to the 1 million Roman Catholics in San Diego and Imperial counties asking them to make “a generous contribution,” according to Brom’s memo. The packets are to be mailed no later than Oct. 26 and will include letters from Brom and the pastor of that person’s parish, along with a return envelope.

Brom said the revenue from the “Embracing Our Mission” campaign will be used to help “cover the expense involved in compassionate outreach to our brothers and sisters who suffered sexual abuse within the family of the church.”

Online: For a copy of Bishop Robert Brom’s memo, go to uniontrib.com/ more/ donatememo
The idea for the campaign came from current priests in the diocese as a gesture of reconciliation toward the 144 men and women who allege they were sexually abused by clergy and church workers when they were minors.

“It’s a way of kind of righting some of the injustices done to them and also start the healing process,” said the Rev. Ned Brockhaus, pastor of St. John of the Cross in Lemon Grove who also serves as dean of that region of parishes. “A lot of us thought it would be a good gesture.”

As for parishioners, the immediate response was mixed.

“It’s a done deal and we have to pay for it and move on, so I’ll contribute,” said Dan Hughes, who attends St. Margaret’s Church in Oceanside.

Judy Bethel, a Catholic and a San Diego resident, disagreed. She argues that if Brom hadn’t sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the diocese in February, he could have settled the suits for less money.

“I think he’s asking us to bear the cost of his mistakes,” Bethel said. “I for one am not willing to do this.”

Most of the suits were filed in 2003 when California lifted its statute of limitations for these kinds of claims for one year.

Under terms of the agreement announced Sept. 7, the average payout will be $1.38 million per victim. That average mirrors the settlement reached in the Los Angeles archdiocese in July.

The article goes on to note that, like Los Angeles, San Diego is considering selling some property, as well.

Photo: Bishop Robert Brom, from the San Diego Union