People who have been sexually abused by California priests can register for a new independent compensation program.

The archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose Gomez, says it doesn't matter when the abuse happened a victim can register at any time.

Victims of priests in the dioceses of Los Angeles, Fresno, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sacramento can register with a group that's independent of the church and run by an oversight committee.

Funding will come from the self-insured reserves in the archdiocese. Similar programs are already in place in other parts of the country.