Archdiocese of New Orleans Files for Bankruptcy

Catholic News Agency ^ | 5/1/20

[marshmallow]

CNA Staff, May 1, 2020 / 02:54 pm MT (CNA).- Under financial pressure from clerical abuse litigation compounded by the coronavirus crisis, The Archdiocese of New Orleans announced May 1 that its administrative offices are filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The filing will affect only the administrative office of the archdiocese and will not impact schools, Masses, and other ministries. Archbishop Gregory Aymond said the decision was made after prayer and consultation.

“I, along with a team of advisors, believe that reorganization will create an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to the faithful and the New Orleans community by restructuring our financials, increasing our transparency and creating a path forward in hopes that we can continue and strengthen our core mission: bringing Christ to others,” he said.

The archbishop said the move will allow funds to be given directly to sex abuse victims rather than being tied up in prolonged litigation efforts. “The healing of victims and survivors is most important to me and to the church,” he said.

In a letter to members of the archdiocese, Aymond explained that recent years have seen financial struggles.

“The resurgence of the clergy abuse crisis has been particularly challenging, especially as it has played out regularly in the local media,” he said.

“The prospect of more abuse cases with associated prolonged and costly litigation, together with pressing ministerial needs and budget challenges, is simply not financially sustainable,” he continued. “Additionally, the unforeseen circumstances surrounding COVID-19 have added more financial hardships to an already difficult situation.”

[Ouchthatonehurt]

I love the Church.
Why does this story please me?

[Kakaze]

The vatican won't announce its worth or holdings but lets a diocese go bankrupt......... good lord

[aposiopetic]

I hope this doesn’t affect either of you adversely.

[Romulus]

Askel doesn’t live here anymore.

It won’t have any direct effect on me either. Long term, some church property will probably have to be sold, which makes me sad, but it’s long past time for the Archdiocese to trim some fat out of its budget. Mrs Romulus and I have restructured our giving to make sure as much as possible stays at the parish level.

[Hambone 1934]

And to think,the liberal bishops wanted to keep the gay pedophile priests raping little boys as long as no one knew...After all,those tens of millions they had to pay victims wasn’t their money,so they didn’t care..

They will tell us they were simply trying to protect the church. Suuuuuuure,it was

[miserare]

...and another one bites the dust...all because of grown men who can’t keep their hands off children.

[ebb tide]

Long term, some church property will probably have to be sold, which makes me sad, but it’s long past time for the Archdiocese to trim some fat out of its budget.

A good start would be the Notre Dame Seminary on South Carrolton Avenue.

[cloudmountain]

The vatican won't announce its worth or holdings but lets a diocese go bankrupt......... good lord

The Vatican isn't wealthy, though it owns art work that is worth billions. They have to fund themselves other ways. They give NO MONEY to churches. Each diocese in the USA has to fund itself.
The Vatican won't sell that art work, of course.
The only money the Pope gets from us Catholics is the annual ONE-TIME per year "Peter's Pence." There is no minimum, no asking amount.

Google
The economy of Vatican City is supported financially by the sale of stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos as well as fees for admission to museums and publication sales. The Vatican City state employed 4,822 persons in 2016. The Vatican City issues its own coins and stamps.

NO one is required to tithe. The wealthy parishes are that way because of their parishioners...nothing else. Tithing is voluntary.

You can see the money, or lack of it, in the parish churches: the shape of their pews, organs and/or pianos, hymnals, altars, flowers (if any), altar cloths, painting inside/outside, the shape of their statues, if any.

I grew up in a poor parish. NOW I live in a middle-class+ parish. I KNOW the rich parishes--it's where all the rich people live. Nothing new there.

[Romulus]

This is actually a not-bad seminary. We get a lot of their young men coming over to learn the TLM. They have several very solid professors on the faculty. Over the past fifteen years, I’ve seen a couple dozen graduates go on celebrate the TLM regularly, prefentially when they can get away with it, as part of their priesthood. NDS is badly “infected” with a tradition minded element.

[ebb tide]

Thanks. I was unaware of that.