Archdiocese Settles Suit on Abuse for $1.7 Million

The Archdiocese of St. Louis will pay nearly $1.7 million to a family whose son was sexually abused over three years by a Roman Catholic priest now serving 15 years in prison, the family’s lawyer said.

Robert Ritter said that he and lawyers for the church settled in the case of the Rev. Gary Wolken of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church.

The archdiocese said the settlement was its largest in a sexual-abuse case in its 157-year history. “While the settlement represents closure of the civil case, our pastoral concern and our prayers continue for all who have been affected by this tragic abuse,” church officials said.