Diocese Settles Abuse Claim
Lincoln Diocese Pays Woman $75,000 to Settle 1993 Clergy Sex Abuse Claim
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The Diocese of Lincoln has paid a woman $75,000 to settle claims that a priest sexually abused her in 1993, when he was a seminarian. Lincoln Journal Star reported that the accuser, Jolene Collins of Iowa, kept the secret for more than 30 years before coming forward. She says the abuse "shaped decades of her life."
The accused, Fr. Scott Courtney, was ordained as a Lincoln priest in 2000. He has denied the allegations. In exchange for the $75,000 payment, Collins released all legal claims against the diocese.
A 32-Year-Old Secret Finally Surfaces
Jolene Collins never told anyone about the alleged 1993 abuse for over three decades. She finally came forward, triggering a diocesan response in September 2025. Bishop James Conley then restricted Fr. Courtney's ministry. He was allowed only to provide spiritual support for retired priests while the investigation proceeded, according to Lincoln Journal Star.
An independent investigation was completed in late 2025. The diocese's Review Board was consulted on the findings. By June 2026, the diocese and Collins had reached the $75,000 settlement. Legal analysts note the relatively modest sum likely reflects Nebraska's strict statute of limitations, which blocks most older civil lawsuits from going to trial.
Lincoln Diocese's Long History of Avoiding Oversight
The Collins case does not exist in a vacuum. From 2002 to 2015, the Diocese of Lincoln was the only diocese in the United States that refused to take part in annual audits required by the national "Dallas Charter" — the Catholic Church's child protection rules. Leaders called the audits "pointless," according to PBS News.
A 2021 Nebraska Attorney General report identified 258 documented abuse victims across the state. Of those, 97 were from the Lincoln Diocese alone. The report also found that statute of limitations laws blocked criminal prosecution in nearly all cases, including those from the early 1990s.
Settlement Seen as Damage Control, Not Full Transparency
The diocese frames the payment as "compassionate support" to help Collins heal without a long legal fight. But survivors' advocates push back. They argue that "release of claims" settlements let the church avoid the full public disclosure that comes with a trial, according to PBS News.
Bishop Conley has stressed both a commitment to transparency and the "presumption of innocence" for Courtney. Critics say that dual message is contradictory. They point to the diocese's past practice of "addressing allegations directly" with problem clergy — without removing them — as evidence that the settlement is damage control for historic failures.
What This Means for the Diocese Going Forward
The $75,000 payment comes from diocesan funds. A single settlement is manageable, but the Lincoln Diocese already named 9 priests on a 2019 "substantiated abusers" list. More settlements could strain its finances and raise insurance costs. The diocese's reputation as a top producer of traditional priestly vocations also faces growing pressure from ongoing disclosures, according to Star Herald.
For Collins, the payment is more than money. She has chosen to speak publicly — a sign that she wants acknowledgment, not just a check. Her case signals a broader shift under Bishop Conley: historic claims that were once ignored are now being resolved, one settlement at a time.
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