Kansas City, Mo. ? A Roman Catholic diocese has tentatively agreed to pay $10 million to settle 47 pending sexual abuse claims against the diocese and 12 of its priests.

Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese Bishop Robert W. Finn on Wednesday apologized for the abuse that occurred at the hands of present and former clergy members, and promised that steps are being taken to make sure such abuse never happens again.

The deal will settle all present sexual abuse lawsuits pending in Jackson County against the diocese and 12 present or former priests for incidents alleged to have occurred between 1951 and 1992.

Finn said he would recommend to the Diocese Tribunal and to the Vatican that the accused priests have their holy orders removed, an action known as laicization.

Priests named in the lawsuits are retired Wyoming Bishop Joseph Hart, John Tulipana, Thomas J. Ward, Earl Johnson, Stephen Wise, Francis E. McGlynn, Hugh F. Monahan, John C. Baskett, Thomas J. O’Brien, Thomas J. Reardon, James Lawbaugh and Sylvester Hoppe.

Finn said he would consult with two diocese boards today – a stipulation of church law – and then sign off on the settlement.

While the deal has not been finalized, both sides said they have been operating under the assumption that it will be. Victims have been in arbitration hearings since Monday to determine how much of the settlement they will receive. The hearings are expected to continue for about two weeks.