WASHINGTON: The Roman Catholic diocese of Dallas, Texas, has agreed to pay 23 million dollars in damages to eight former alter boys who were sexually abused by a priest, reports said. The sum is the largest ever paid in such a case by the Catholic church in the United States, The Washington Post said on Saturday. Initially, a jury ordered the Dallas diocese to pay 119 million dollars, but because such a sum would have forced the organisation into bankruptcy a smaller amount was negotiated.

Rudolph Kos has been sentenced to life in prison by a Texas court and defrocked by the Vatican for sexually abusing alter boys and other children in three parishes over an eleven-year period. One of his victims committed suicide. In separate settlements with three others abused by Kos the church has already agreed to pay 7.5 million dollars, bringing the total damages to 30.5 million dollars.

Aggressive Buddha

BAN PHO: A statue of the Buddha that some Thaiscall inspired but others find offensive may cost the monk who had it built his job. The ten-metre high statue in Chachoengsao province, 30 km east of Bangkok, depicts the Buddha standing with his right foot atop a large globe of the world. Phra Khru Sopitsutakhun, the 61-year-old abbot of Sanamchan temple, has said the statue was inspired by a dream he had and represents the Buddha protecting the globe while spreading his teachings. Academics, other monks and government officials dispute his vision, condemning the statue as bizarre and offensive to the Buddhist religion.

Several have described the pose as ``aggressive'', a concept contrary to Buddhist teachings.

Missed rendezvous

STOCKHOLM: A Swedish prostitute fed up with clients failing to keep appointments has sued six of them for compensation. ``I demanded respect....You're forced to pay for a dentist appointment if you don't cancel in advance,'' the prostitute told the daily Aftonbladet. The 34-year old said she recorded on cassetteall telephone bookings in case they were needed as evidence.