Posted on 03/18/2023 12:12:49 AM PDT by thecodont
OAKLAND, Calif. - The Diocese of Oakland announced this week it is considering filing for bankruptcy due to hundreds of lawsuits that have been filed, alleging clergy members sexually abused children.
In a letter posted on the diocese website, Bishop Michael Barber said that 330 lawsuits have been filed against the diocese from 2020 to 2022.
A new California law gave victims of sexual abuse a three-year window to file claims that had previously expired due to the statute of limitations.
He says he believes bankruptcy would allow the diocese to reorganize its financial affairs, while providing a way to support survivors.
"After much prayer and thoughtful advice, I believe bankruptcy can provide a way to support all survivors in their journey toward healing in an equitable and comprehensive way," wrote Barber, in his letter released Thursday afternoon to the diocese, which has parishes in both Alameda and Contra Costa counties. "It will also allow the diocese to reorganize our financial affairs so we may continue to fulfill the sacred mission entrusted to us by Christ and the Church."
Barber's announcement drew swift criticism from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP.
"It’s a tactic to dissuade, stall or beat down victims and other dioceses have tried that," Joey Piscitelli, a Contra Costa resident and the survivors network’s Northern California leader, told the Bay Area News Group. "If they were truly sorry for what they did, they wouldn’t pull tactics like this."
"They would be more honest and forthcoming and they would actually take care of the victims who led a life of pain after being molested," he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktvu.com ...
Bishop Accountability
Abuse Tracker
Daily guide to media coverage of clergy abuse worldwide, and especially in the US Roman Catholic church. More than 100,000 articles blogged since 2006.
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/
The Catholic’s have been getting screwed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican, and it evil Popes since the fourth century in more ways than one. Its false gospel and heretical teachings has been leading its followers who lack discernment straight to the lake of fire.
Well stated.
This is lawfare. All the while gays rape boys in San Fransicko and nothing happens to them.
Just liquidating the whole thing, divvy up the money and go away forever.
Most protestant churches have safeguards to ensure proper safety for children in church, particularly making sure adults are not alone with kids. What’s with Rome churches that there is so much private time between priests and kids?
As a father of 8 I would never leave my kid alone with an adult, particularly a dude.
; ponders bankruptcy, TonyM wrote:
The Catholic’s have been getting screwed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican, and it evil Popes since the fourth century in more ways than one. Its false gospel and heretical teachings has been leading its followers who lack discernment straight to the lake of fire.
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That screed is ignorant bigotry I hope.
The Church’s teachings are true and the Sacraments alive. The Church has and will survive Christ’s warnings of persecution. The Church has been infiltrated by the would be destroyers forever and this scandal is no different.
Many accusations are false or exaggerated. Those true should result in punishment. Those not, dismissed. Justice, if it can be found, shoul prevail.
The Church is historically and currently full of people in the millions faithfully following its Founder, both clergy and laity.The abusers are relative few and many are opportunistic infiltrators.
Bigotry, like yours should stop.
>>>The Church has and will survive Christ’s warnings of persecution. <<<
This is not persecution. The Catholic Church in America has a well observed pattern from one diocese to another of not only having pedophile priests, but a culture of those in charge to not only hide this from the laity but to keep these priests. That means the church is culpable.
The Church should not be harboring criminal deviants on it’s payroll. But I suppose that goes hand in hand with the high amounts of homosexuality that appears to be an open secret in the seminaries of this country.
its not persecution but correction of the church, because the catholic church has strayed from christ’s teaching for at least 1600 years. IFY St. Peter was also the bishop of Antioch also.
I did no say persecution, but rather infiltration.
Correction. I did write persecution, but should have written prosrcution or infoltration
Mea Culpa.
Ok no worries, ya infiltration in the seminary and monastery first.
LOk no worries, ya infiltration in the seminary and monastery first..
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Yes, testimony in Congressional Record by Bella Dodd.
Every time I start to think I might vote for DeSantis something like this happens and I am right back in Trump’s camp! I think I am now permanently voting for Trump.
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