Honolulu diocese reaches settlement in priest sex case

HILO, Hawaii (AP) - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu has settled a lawsuit alleging a retired Big Island priest sexually abused two boys decades ago.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports that attorney for the plaintiffs Mark Gallagher says the settlement of the 2013 lawsuit only concerns the diocese and no claims have been dismissed against Father George DeCosta.

The alleged victims in the case say the abuse took place in the 1960s when they were students at Damien Memorial School in Honolulu and DeCosta was the school chaplain.

The lawsuit is one of three filed against the diocese alleging sexual abuse by DeCosta and that the diocese knew or should have known about the abuse.

Gallagher says no settlements have been reached in the other two cases.

DeCosta and his attorney, Jared Washkowitz, did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.