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Church officials: Dubuque diocese 'on solid ground' financially

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DUBUQUE (AP) -- The Diocese of Davenport may have declared bankruptcy recently, but church officials in the nearby Archdiocese of Dubuque say they have no financial concerns.

"Anything is possible, but here it's not probable," said Rick Runde, finance officer for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. "We're on solid ground and absolutely not close to bankruptcy."

The Diocese of Davenport was the fourth U.S. Catholic diocese to file for bankruptcy in the face of mounting financial settlements with victims of clergy sexual abuse. So far the diocese has paid more than $10.5 million against dozens of claims filed against priests, including a $9 million settlement with 37 victims.

A jury also awarded $1.5 million to a former altar boy who was abused by a diocesan priest.

In Dubuque, the archdiocese agreed to a $5 million settlement in February with 20 men and women who were abused by diocesan clergy, but there are no sexual abuse claims pending.

Runde also said there is still money set aside in the archdiocesan insurance fund to deal with future sexual abuse claims.

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