A $660 million settlement and apologetic words of sorrow from Cardinal Mahony as well as disclosure of abusive church representatives is a compensation for the victims - but does it heal?

The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Los Angeles announced Sunday that the 508 persons sexually abused by church representatives over the past several decades would receive a total of $660 million as settlement.

The same agreement states that the church discloses files of the priests and other church representatives accused of sexual abuse. These have so far been confidential.

The settlement, agreed on Saturday, is the largest sum ever paid by the church over sexual abuse claims. The 508 alleged victims will each receive $1.3 million.

Raymond Boucher, chief attorney for the plaintiffs, told the Los Angeles Times newspaper: “Some of the victims have waited more than five decades for a chance at reconciliation and resolution. This is a down payment on that debt, long overdue.”

On Sunday, after presiding over Mass at Los Angeles’ Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Cardinal Roger Mahony apologized for the abuse.

“There really is no way to go back and give them that innocence that was taken from them. The one thing I wish I could give the victims ... I cannot,” Cardinal Mahony told reporters. “I apologize to anyone who has been offended, who has been abused. It should not have happened, and it will not.”

A spokesperson later said the apology was not part of the settlement.

“Over the past year, it has been my privilege and grace to meet with many, many victims, one by one,” Mahony said, “and during this time I have come to understand far more deeply than I ever could the impact of this terrible sin and crime that has affected their lives.”

“So many of the victims told me in various ways that . . . there really is no way to go back and give them that innocence that was taken from them. It is the one part of the settlement process that I find the most frustrating, because the one thing I wish I could give the victims, I cannot.”

According to media reports, not all the victims were impressed with the cardinal’s words, pointing out that, however sincere his apology may have been, it does not change their lives and what they have been through.

Church property will not be sold, according to Mahony, but other assets such as buildings could be sold to raise money to cover the settlement. The church could resort to investment money and/or to borrowing.

Michael Hennigan, one of the attorneys representing the church, said the work of the church would be “impacted” by the sizeable settlement but “not crippled.”