Arkansas Catholic diocese settles abuse claims from 5 men

Arkansas attorneys say the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock has agreed to settle accusations from five men who said a priest abused them when they were children decades ago.

The accusations were made against priest John J. McDaniel, and the abuse occurred in the early 1970s, the complaints said.

Attorney Joshua Gillispie said the settlement is the first from the diocese over accusations of abuse by a priest.

The five boys were between the ages of 12 and 15 at the time of the purported abuse, and were students at Our Lady of the Holy Souls School, where McDaniel had access to them. The attorneys said most of the abuse happened in the priest’s rectory on campus.

“It is extremely likely that there many, many more victims,” Gillispie said.