SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Catholics may get a letter from their priest soon, asking for money to help pay the nearly $200 million settlement for alleged sexual assault victims.

The Roman Catholic San Diego Diocese hopes to raise $25 million through the "Embracing Our Mission" campaign. Last month, the diocese agreed to settle a raft of sexual assault allegations against priests for $198.1 million.

Bishop Robert H. Brom, in a letter dated yesterday, asked parishioners to help cover the expense "we incurred recently through compassionate outreach to our brothers and sisters who suffered sexual abuse within family of the church."

The announcement that the church was going to ask for help from parishioners came Oct. 2 when Brom asked priests to donate $1,535, or one month's salary.

About half of the settlement money will come from religious orders and insurance, according to a financial breakdown Brom sent to parishioners.

The diocese also will sell property to raise money. The church hopes to use $40 million from the sale of the former University of San Diego High School, the former Marian Catholic High School site and an Oceanside property toward the settlement.

If the fund-raising effort is unsuccessful, Brom said the diocese would sell the Diocesan Pastoral Center and St. Francis Seminary.