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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 17 april 2019

L.A. Archdiocese Donations for burned black

agrees to $8M payment churches up after Notre Dame fire

in sex abuse case By KEVIN McGILL

Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A
Archdiocese of Los Ange- crowdfunding campaign
les has agreed to pay $8 for three African American
million to a teenager who churches in Louisiana re-
was sexually abused by cently gutted by arson was
the athletic director at her climbing Tuesday after so-
Catholic high school who cial media posts urging the
had continued to work public not to forget the
despite prior allegations plight of the small houses
of misconduct, it was an- of worship as the eyes of
nounced Tuesday. the world were on the fire-
A court finalized the settle- ravaged Notre Dame ca-
ment last week of a negli- thedral in Paris. In this April 4, 2019 file photo, firefighters and fire investigators
respond to a fire at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, in Opelousas,
gence lawsuit, said David This undated photo released “As we hold Paris in our La.
Ring, an attorney for the by the Henderson Detention hearts today, let’s also sent Associated Press
teenager. Center shows Juan Ivan some love to our neighbors die Jack, president of the happened in and around
The archdiocese has paid Barajas of San Gabriel, Calif. in Louisiana,” a Tuesday Seventh District Missionary Opelousas beginning in
out more than $740 million Associated Press tweet from Hillary Clinton Baptist Association, said of late March. Matthews was
in sexual abuse settlements The lawsuit alleged that the read. Freelance journal- the fundraising campaign arrested a week ago.
over the past 15 years. Ring archdiocese failed to take ist Yashar Ali, with 394,000 in a telephone interview The campaign hit $500,000
said the $8 million is the action despite repeated followers, struck a similar Tuesday night. The three Tuesday evening, with
largest payment to a sin- complaints of misconduct tone, tweeting that the churches are members of contributions ranging from
gle individual in any of the by Barajas involving oth- Notre Dame restoration the association. $5 to thousands of dollars.
cases. “The Archdiocese er students at the all-girls “will be well funded” and Suspect Holden Matthews, “It’s all working out for the
recognizes that there was school. “You had months urging support for the Loui- 21, is in custody in connec- greater good,” Jack said,
serious harm done to the of complaints about this in- siana churches. tion with the Louisiana fires when asked about the
life of the victim-survivor,” dividual ... yet nothing was “It’s a blessing, truly a and faces charges that in- connection being made
the archdiocese said in a done,” Ring said in an inter- blessing,” the Rev. Fred- clude hate crimes. The fires to the Notre Dame fire.q
statement. “We hope that view with The Associated
the settlement will allow her Press. “There are parents
to heal and move forward who made complaints.
with her education and There are other girls who
lifetime goals. The Arch- made complaints.”
diocese apologizes for the Anonymous letters sent
impact that this caused in to school officials in 2015
her life.” Juan Ivan Barajas, contained allegations of
a health teacher and ath- misconduct by Barajas.
letic director at San Ga- One sent to Monsignor Sal
briel Mission High School, Pilato, the assistant superin-
began having sex with the tendent of high schools for
girl, then 15, in 2016 and the archdiocese, said: “He
eventually kidnapped her, takes the ones he likes to
according to court docu- the office,” the Los Angeles
ments. Times reported.
He took her to Las Vegas A year before Barajas was
after his wife discovered arrested, a coach at the
evidence of the abuse on school reported to the prin-
his cellphone, the records cipal that on more than
said. 50 occasions Barajas took
After five days on the run, a girl into his office where
Barajas was arrested and the two were alone, the
the girl was rescued. Times said, citing court
Barajas, now 38, pleaded documents. The plaintiff in
guilty to felony statutory the lawsuit is emotionally
sexual seduction and was scarred and suffers panic
sentenced to six years in attacks and flashbacks, ac-
prison. cording to court records.q