Posted on 12/06/2004 7:22:25 PM PST by Mike Fieschko
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday, saying it did not have the money to cover lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by clergy.Spokane is the third Catholic diocese to file for bankruptcy recently in the wake of the nationwide scandal involving sexual abuse by priests. Portland, Ore., and Tucson, Ariz., are the other two.
The diocese faces claims that already total some $77 million, and Chapter 11 bankruptcy is the best way to ensure that all victims are treated fairly and that the church continues its mission, Bishop William Skylstad said.
"Demands by plaintiffs continue to be beyond the ability of the diocese to meet," said Skylstad, who was just elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In its filing, the diocese listed assets of $11.1 million and liabilities of $81.3 million — the vast majority being sexual abuse claims.
The filing means federal bankruptcy court will determine what assets can be used to pay claims and how much each victim will get.
Critics denounced the Spokane filing, saying Skylstad was trying to avoid a trial that would expose the lengths to which the church went to hide serial pedophiles.
"Everyone suffers when Skylstad chooses to protect his secrets and his image rather than show courage and compassion," said David Clohessy, national director for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
The Spokane Diocese serves about 97,000 Catholics in eastern Washington through 81 parish churches.
According to court papers filed Monday, the diocese so far faces 19 lawsuits involving 58 alleged victims, dating from the 1950s to 1991. Nine priests and two other clergymen have been accused of sexual abuse in those lawsuits.
More than two dozen sexual abuse claims involve former priest Patrick O'Donnell, 62, who served in Spokane and Seattle until he was removed from ministry in 1986. He has acknowledged he sexually abused boys from the time he was in the seminary.
The filing means that any future settlement negotiations must be handled through bankruptcy court, said Shaun Cross, attorney for the diocese. The diocese has settled about six cases in the past week, Cross said.
What an absolute disgrace this entire thing is.
Unbelievable!
Where do they go to file for moral and spiritual bankruptcy as well? By their fruits shall you know them.
He has acknowledged he sexually abused boys from the time he was in the seminary.
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Now he wants to be a Boy Scout leader !!!
Eeeeyuch... what a filthy slimebag !!!
If Sears files for bankruptcy they dont file in one city they file all over the world. Why is it the church which is worldwide can only be broke in Washington. I hate to say this but if the Vatican had to pay up maybe they would do something beside give lip service to straightening out the mess.
A lot of Catholic hearts are being broken across the US.
Its very very sad.
The fact is that it would be akin to chasing down Chevron for Sears' liabilities; thay are separate companies.
The hearts were broken years ago; at least now they can rejoice in the fixin'
This legal strategy, and the structuring of each diocese as a seperate legal entity to limit liability, in a church with centralized authority, has a certain unpleasant smell to it, at least to my nostrils.
If these are the people who publish the Oregon Catholic Press then they should file for spiritual bankrupcy. The inane, Palegian, politically correct, and sometimes pantheistic drivel they pass off as music ruins mass for me.
Pay this horrible debt.
Sell buildings, grounds, structures, valuables and lease them back.
Severe damage has been done.
Money is but a small remedy for these horrible acts as these crimes look like a known but hidden collusion over an extended period of time.
a sad situation all around.
Let me see if I've got this straight. You wan't the Jesuits in the Vatican to part with wealth in order to pay for the wrongdoings of mere priests and bishops?
BWAHAHAHAHAHA
No. Since Sears and Chevron are unrelated, there's no parallel there. This is structurally more like McDonalds. There are some "corporate" stores, and some independent stores. One independent store, or a commonly-owned chain of such stores, could declare bankruptcy without affecting the corporation, and the individual store's creditors couldn't attach the franchisor.
There are actually some independent, non-diocesan parishes still out there in various places, typically run by a parish board of trustees. If you're concerned about where your contributions are going (and, IMO, you SHOULD be), seek such a place near you.
When asked why he had a pair of underoos tied to his arm, the priest replied he was on the patch....sorry
K-Mart filed in the Us Bankruptcy Court in Michigan (Detroit); K-Mart is based in Troy, Michigan and emerged from bankruptcy.
You may be mistakingly thinking of UAL, the parent holding company of United Airlines based out of Elk Grove Village, IL, which filed in the US Bankruptcy for the Northern Dustrict of Illinois (Chicago) and may never emerge from bankruptcy.
The Diocese of Spookane is a not-for-profit and stands alone, from a legal standpoint, from any other diocese or the Vatican. As is the case of all Catholic diocese in the United States.
The US Bishops seem to be taking this matter quite seriously, bankrupting the entire Catholic Church will only resukt in more atheists and socialist for our children to contend with.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
As opposed to declaring bankruptcy in order to give victims the shaft????
So, let me get this straight. Bankrupt. No more services? No more masses?
How on earth would a priest in the pulpet ever have the guts to ask people to contribute?
Not a good situation.
If they are separate "campanies", there should not be any problem with a group establishing a competing Spokane Diocese in the same area. Neither the existing or new "Spokane Dioceses" would be the "same company" as the Catholic Church in Rome. Both would be on equal footings? Right?
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