The Archdiocese of Hagatna is offering $21 million to settle the more than 200 clergy sex abuse lawsuits. The figures are contained in a disclosure statement and bankruptcy reorganization plan filed Thursday with the Guam District Court.

According to court documents, $7 million will come directly from the Archdiocese, which in December sold the former Redemptoris Mater seminary for $5.7 million. Another $13 million will come from insurance, and another $1 million will be due from the parishes.

Another lawsuit is pending against the church to include local catholic schools and parishes to increase the settlement fund, but Archdiocese attorney Ford Elsaesser says the church opposes that.


"We firmly believe that the parishes and schools, they own their own property to put it simply," he said. "They have their own bank accounts. You know they raised the money. They built the parish and raised the money to build the schools. we're going to obviously be resisting that litigation."

Elsaessar could not discuss specifics of the disclosure statement and bankruptcy reorganization plan, but did say they're hoping for a single, overall settlement for all matters.


"We are hopeful of getting back to the mediation table and resolve through a mediation with the court-appointed mediator Judge Faris," he said.

But Elsaessar says no new mediations or court hearings are currently scheduled. And he wouldn't speculate how long it may take to resolve.

"I remain hopeful and optimistic but sometimes these cases take longer than other times," he said.

The sexual abuse allegations date back decades, a majority implicating now deceased former priest Louis Brouillard, as well as now-defrocked Archbishop Anthony Apuron.

The next Church bankruptcy case hearing is set for Feb. 21.