Posted on 09/13/2022 6:23:06 PM PDT by marshmallow
A U.S. bankruptcy judge rejected the Catholic church's argument that it should be allowed to keep paying monthly stipends to staff accused of sexual abuse.
NEW ORLEANS — A federal bankruptcy judge has ordered the Archdiocese of New Orleans to stop paying retirement benefits to five priests who have been accused of sexually abusing minors or vulnerable adults but are not included on a list of more than 70 clergy the local church considers “credibly accused.”
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill issued the order Aug. 31, rejecting the local Catholic church’s argument that it should be allowed to keep paying monthly stipends to priests, deacons and lay staff who face claims of sexual abuse in sealed documents that were turned over to the court by the Archdiocese earlier this year.
From the very beginning of its bankruptcy case in May 2020, the Archdiocese tried to argue that it needed protection from dozens of pending sexual abuse lawsuits, but it should be allowed to keep paying retirement benefits to all living clergy – including those on the “credibly accused list” released by Archbishop Gregory Aymond in November 2018 and updated with additional names over the years since.
Grabill quickly ruled in 2020 that living clergy on the Archdiocese’s official list should not continue to get stipends known as “maintenance” payments, although medical coverage could continue. But she has now taken what she called an “extraordinary” step to amend that ruling based on evidence provided by the Archdiocese this year.
In February 2022, Grabill ordered the church to produce additional internal records from the past 10 years, “including, but not limited to, personnel files, Archdiocesan Review Board … findings, and law enforcement referrals, maintained by any and all departments and offices within the Archdiocese — related to all Archdiocesan priests or........
(Excerpt) Read more at wwltv.com ...
So they’ve been found guilty already? If not, this is unconstitutional.
Accused but not listed among the credibly accused?
but are not included on a list of more than 70 clergy the local church considers “credibly accused.”
What the hell…..???
Who here would like to see their retirement blocked by a court because they were merely accused of abuse.
Watch the movie ‘Spotlight’ to see just how systemic the pedophile priest problem really is.
Well, when an entity files for bankruptcy protection the court will frequently imposes conditions. One of the things bankruptcy is supposed to do is figure out the assets and liabilities of the bankrupt party. This is so creditors can be paid in an orderly fashion, etc. LEGITIMATE creditors.
BTW - secured creditors make out the best in a bankruptcy.
I think the Catholic Diocese had to agree to some conditions in their filing, and may have not been really thorough in this matter of “retirement benefits”.
I am not a lawyer, so don’t cuss me out too badly.
“...the Archdiocese tried to argue that it needed protection from dozens of pending sexual abuse lawsuits, but it should be allowed to keep paying retirement benefits to all living clergy – including those on the “credibly accused list” ...”
>>>
See that? They want PROTECTION from lawsuits.
Does the judge think that shoddy work was done by the diocese in ferreting out wrong-doing? I don’t know.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.