Kevin Bennett was convicted in 1990 of sexually assaulting boys in several Newfoundland parishes. (CBC)

A Roman Catholic diocese has made its final payments to men who were sexually abused as children by a priest convicted of the crimes almost two decades ago.

Kevin Bennett was convicted in 1990 of sexually assaulting boys in mostly rural parishes where he served during a lengthy career as a priest. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Finalizing a settlement — originally set at more than $14 million and involving almost 40 men — has taken years to complete, with the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. George's selling off properties to raise cash.

In the end, the church was able to raise about $13 million.

"We've done what we can," said Bishop Douglas Crosby.

"I've sent a letter of apology to each person, so now what do we do? We can either constantly look back and hang our head or we can look forward and try to build something better."

Bennett's case was one of several trials involving priests and Christian Brothers — a lay order that ran the notorious Mount Cashel Orphanage in St. John's — that shocked Newfoundland and Labrador in the 1980s and 1990s.

Crosby said the church has changed significantly because of the events.

"I can only hope that the policies we've set in place will help. The priests in this diocese have worked hard to understand what happened and to ensure that it won't happen again," he said.

St. John's lawyer Greg Stack, who represents most of the claimants in the Bennett case, said his clients are happy the ordeal is over, although he said it was a frustrating process.

"There's disappointment that they waited right to, well, Christmas Eve to send the money," he said.

"I haven't heard a single [victim] say anything good about the Catholic Church."