New York – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announced today that it has reached an agreement to settle claims brought by five Texas plaintiffs against the Archdiocese and Holy Trinity Church of Dallas, Texas. The plaintiffs' claims in this case relate to acts of sexual misconduct that were alleged to have been committed in the 1980s by Nicholas Katinas, former pastor of Holy Trinity. The settlement of this litigation was approved by the Archdiocese Executive Committee and made in order to avoid prolonged litigation and to promote healing for those affected by this tragedy. 

By agreement of the plaintiffs and the Archdiocese and Holy Trinity Church, the amount of the settlement will remain confidential, which is a common practice in this type of settlement. The terms of the settlement do not release Mr. Katinas, who has been defrocked, from liability. 

The Archdiocese and Holy Trinity Church had no knowledge of Mr. Katinas’ wrongdoing prior to a complaint made to the Archdiocesan Chancellor’s Office in late 2005, which stemmed from alleged misconduct by Katinas in the 1970s. The case was handled according to the protocols laid out in the Archdiocesan clergy misconduct policy. Katinas was suspended from all priestly functions after a prompt investigation of the charges, which found grounds to believe that very serious acts of misconduct had taken place. At the recommendation of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has defrocked Katinas. 

The Archdiocese acknowledges that Katinas’ actions involve a most grave and tragic kind of misconduct, the abuse of children, and deeply regrets any harm that may have been caused to the people affected by Katinas’ actions. We continue to pray for the healing of the five plaintiffs and to all others involved in this painful matter.