San Diego Diocese Considers Bankruptcy

[Doondoo]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego said in a letter to parishioners this weekend that it is considering declaring bankruptcy to avoid going to trial on more than 140 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by priests.

The pastoral statement, signed by Bishop Robert Brom, said if fair settlements can't be reached with abuse victims, "the diocese may be forced to file a Chapter 11 reorganization in bankruptcy court."

The diocese is concerned "that settlements not cripple the ability of the Church to accomplish its mission and ministries," the letter said.

The letter was included in the regular weekly bulletin handed out at services Saturday and Sunday. If the diocese files for bankruptcy, it would become the fifth in the nation to seek protection in the clergy sex abuse scandal. Under such bankruptcy, a court supervises the reorganization of the diocese's contractual and debt obligations.

An attorney for the San Diego plaintiffs said the Chapter 11 filing "would be a sham and frivolous."

"We don't know if the threat of bankruptcy is a ploy to try and get the plaintiffs to settle for less money or if it's a stonewalling tactic," attorney Andrea Leavitt said. "What the public needs to know is this is a very rich diocese with over 500 pieces of property and a lot of insurance."



http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070219/D8NCMSSG1.html

[madrchsod]

1. the catholic church is one of the most corrupt institutions

in history. it was founded not on the teachings of christ but a state religion that used it`s power to enrich itself on the backs of it`s parishioners. 500 pieces of property and lots of insurance is contrary to christ`s message. unfortunately there will be many good people effected by this settlement and they too are the victims of the churches corruption when dealing with child molesters with in the priesthood

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. let them declare. They are nothing but a business anyway, poorly run

evil and corrupt to the core.

[Ian David]

3. Catamites are expensive these days. n/t

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. The typical dodge of the criminal

They committed crimes in protecting sexual preditors from the law. Let me repeat: THEY COMMITTED CRIMES. If they did not want to be responsible for reparations from their crimes, they should not have committed them in the first place.