A Catholic diocese in the US has agreed to pay at least $48m (€37m) to people molested by priests, a federal mediator announced.

A woman has claimed she was sexually abused more than 40 years ago by the president of the US Conference of Catholic bishops.

AMERICAN priests maintain high morale and enjoy the appreciation of parishioners despite the molestation of minors perpetrated by a few among their ranks, the president of the nation’s Catholic bishops said yesterday.