Church Sex Abuse Case Settled for $1.2M in Portland, Maine: Report

PORTLAND, MAINE — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in Maine has reportedly agreed to pay $1.2 million to the victims of a now-deceased priest accused of sexually abusing at least a half-dozen altar boys.

Rev. James Vallely died in 1997. He was a pastor at St. Michael's Church in South Berwick, among other churches.

Six men who accused Vallely of abusing them sued the diocese; their lawyer on Monday announced the diocese agreed to settle the case for $1.2 million, the Boston Globe reported.

"The diocese respects the privacy and confidentiality of the victims/survivors involved in cases of sexual abuse of minors," the diocese said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.

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