October 30, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In September of 2019, the Diocese of Rochester filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Rochester. At the time of the filing, the petition noted the Diocese had $50-$100 million in assets, with liability estimates totaling $100 to $500 million. The Diocese of Rochester was the first New York diocese to choose Chapter 11 reorganization, however the Dioceses of Syracuse, Buffalo and Rockville Centre have all since filed as well. The Rochester diocese covers 12 upstate New York counties where an estimated 360,000 Catholics live.
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Archdiocese of Santa Fe Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan Filed with Court
December 13, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has finally filed its bankruptcy reorganization plan four years after filing for Chapter 11 protection . . .
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Bankruptcy Judge Says ‘No’ to Paying Accused Priests
November 1, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill has ordered the Archdiocese of New Orleans to stop paying retirement benefits to five priests who have been accused of sexually abusing minors . . .
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Revival Windows Don’t Bring Justice for Every Survivor
November 1, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Clergy sexual abuse survivor Robert Kapal is out of legal options to file a civil claim against his abuser and the organization which allowed him to be sexually abused . . .
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FBI Opens Investigation into Catholic Church in New Orleans
August 25, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The FBI has opened an investigation into the Catholic Church in New Orleans regarding allegations of sexual abuse of children going back decades.
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Ruling Allows Rochester Abuse Survivors to Sue Diocese
June 23, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A ruling by a federal bankruptcy judge will allow clergy sexual abuse survivors to move forward with lawsuits against the Diocese of Rochester.
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New Mexico Diocese Announces $121.5 Million Settlement
May 27, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe, one of the oldest dioceses in the United States, announced it had reached a settlement agreement with survivors of clergy sexual abuse in order to resolve its bankruptcy protection filing.
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Louisiana Opens Revival Window
May 17, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Louisiana opened a three-year revival window which gives sexual abuse survivors with expired civil claims the ability to file them.
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Diocese of Santa Fe Nearing Bankruptcy Reorganization Settlement
March 31, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In 2018, Archbishop of Santa Fe John C. Wester announced that the Archdiocese would seek bankruptcy protection amidst the growing number of sexual abuse lawsuits. Nearly 3 years later, the committee set up to represent the survivors, along with the Archdiocese, have reached a confidential settlement.
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Catholic Church Parishioners Seek Financial Transparency from Dioceses
March 19, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A survey done by Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) concludes that only five U.S. dioceses are financially transparent. According to its website, VOTF is “a lay organization of faithful Catholics. . .whose mission is to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.”
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Dioceses of Camden Files for Bankruptcy
February 5, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
On Oct. 1, 2020, the Diocese of Camden filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A press release subsequent to the filing cited COVID-19, payments already made through the Victims Compensation Program, and state legislative changes regarding the statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims as the reasons the Diocese sought bankruptcy protection.
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Judge Rules Clergy Abuse Survivors Can File Lawsuits Against Archdiocese of Santa Fe
November 23, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Bankruptcy Judge David T. Thuma is overseeing the Chapter 11 reorganization of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Thuma’s recent ruling would allow lawyers for clergy sex abuse survivors to file lawsuits against the diocese claiming it fraudulently transferred an estimated $150 million to avoid paying it to survivors. Lawyers for survivors allege the transfer of Archdiocese real estate and assets to parishes is an attempt to avoid bigger payouts to victims.
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New York’s Diocese of Rochester Files for Bankruptcy
October 30, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In September of 2019, the Diocese of Rochester filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Rochester. At the time of the filing, the petition noted the Diocese had $50-$100 million in assets, with liability estimates totaling $100 to $500 million. The Diocese of Rochester was the first New York diocese to choose Chapter 11 reorganization, however the Dioceses of Syracuse, Buffalo and Rockville Centre have all since filed as well. The Rochester diocese covers 12 upstate New York counties where an estimated 360,000 Catholics live.
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Diocese of Syracuse Files for Bankruptcy Amid Growing Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
August 21, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In June, the Diocese of Syracuse filed a petition for reorganization through Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In a June 19, 2020 letter, Bishop Douglas J. Lucia noted he had authorized the filing and the case would be before the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of New York.
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Billions of Dollars Hidden by Catholic Church
July 27, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Not only has the Catholic Church been forced to deal with a very public child sex abuse problem, but their past sins are now manifesting into growing financial concerns as the Church struggles to provide restitution to those it wronged.
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Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits – Delays Expected in Buffalo
May 18, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Victims of clergy sexual abuse with cases against the Diocese of Buffalo should expect delays in compensation awards. In a January ruling by Judge Deborah A. Chimes, Supreme Court of Erie Country, she noted the particular victim (plaintiff) should receive damages for abuse suffered. However there is a catch causing a delay in getting compensation from the Diocese of Buffalo. The Diocese of Buffalo filed for bankruptcy. This filing effectively paused all lawsuits and legal proceedings against the dioceses.
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Buffalo Diocese Becomes 2nd New York Diocese to File for Bankruptcy
May 13, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In February of 2020, the Diocese of Buffalo became the second Diocese in New York state to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, after the first filing by the Diocese of Rochester in September of 2019. The church sites the new law passed by New York state’s legislators, dubbed the Child Victims Act, as the reason for bankruptcy filings.
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Harrisburg Catholic Diocese Attempts to Reduce Sex Abuse Lawsuit Payouts with Bankruptcy Filing
March 10, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Harrisburg Catholic Diocese has recently declared bankruptcy as a result of ongoing and mounting Catholic Church sexual abuse claims. The diocese has already paid out nearly $13 million to 111 victims of childhood sexual abuse and church officials believe there may be more than 200 additional victims who could seek compensation through the bankruptcy proceedings.
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