Professor Peter Simbolic, of the Catholic University of America: "The case has devastated morale."

The Church, which had earlier agreed a multi-million dollar settlement with three other claimants, had been ordered to pay the victims nearly $120m by a court last year.

It was the largest settlement ever issued in an abuse case against the Catholic Church.

The Church claimed the ruling would put it into bankruptcy, and began negotiations with the victims that concluded in Friday's settlement.

Kos: life imprisonment

The priest, Father Rudolph Kos, was sentenced to life in prison in 1997 after being convicted of sexually abusing the altar boys over an 11-year period.

The court heard the offences were carried out on hundreds of occasions between 1981 and 1992.

Kos would befriend the boys, and provide food, drink and video games to tempt them to his church living quarters after school.

A former altar boy, who had given evidence against Kos, reportedly described the settlement as "a day of relief for everyone." But, he added, "the pain will never go away."

Suicide

Another victim committed suicide at the age of 20.

Bishop Charles Grahmann, of Dallas, has publicly apologised to the victims, saying: "We accept the burden of the verdict. I regret very much what happened, and I am deeply sorry for your pain."