Priest settles abuse lawsuit for $16 million

A priest of the Oakland diocese agreed on Tuesday to settle a civil lawsuit against him for $16 million, while the diocese also agreed to pay $1 million plus $50,000 for counseling.

Mark Bogdanowicz had accused Father Robert Freitas, 58, of sexually abusing him more than 20 years ago. The settlement concludes a civil trial that began on November 10, but it's unclear whether Father Freitas actually has the $16 million. The diocese said an insurer would pay its part of the settlement.

Freitas, who is suspended from ministry, "will not ever resume any kind of ministry in the Church," a diocesan spokesman said.

The alleged abuse occurred several times in 1979 when Bogdanowicz was 15 and Freitas was serving at Santa Paula Parish in Fremont. Bogdanowicz first told his mother about the abuse in 2001. Freitas was arrested in 2002 following a police investigation. He later pleaded guilty to one count of child molestation and was sentenced to six months in prison.

This news story originally appeared on the Catholic World News site.