Chile court hears appeal of case seeking damages from Church over abuse claims

Juan Andres Murillo, victim of clerical sexual abuse in Chile, attends a court seeking compensation in civil case in Santiago, Chile, October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

(Reuters) - Three men, who have accused Chilean priest Fernando Karadima of sexual abuse, asked a court in Santiago on Thursday to find the Roman Catholic Church in Chile responsible for "moral damages," claiming the Church had covered up abuse, and to pay them a total of 450 million pesos ($650,000).

James Hamilton, Jose Andres Murillo and Juan Carlos Cruz told a panel of judges at Chile's Court of Appeals that the Archbishopric of Santiago had covered-up sexual and psychological abuse of them and others.