$10 mln church abuse payout

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay nearly $10 million to four men who say they were molested by a local priest.
The agreement brings to an end four lawsuits against the archdiocese involving Michael Baker, a charismatic parish priest accused of molesting at least 23 boys over three decades.

In 1986 Baker admitted his abuse of two boys to the then-archbishop, now Cardinal Roger Mahony. Mahony sent him to a New Mexico treatment center but later returned him to the ministry, and Baker molested again. In 2007, he was convicted of abusing two boys and sent to prison.

Two of the civil cases settled were set for trial next month, latimes.com reports.