Archbishop testifies on bankruptcy; disbarred lawyer nabbed in scam 08/11/2004 Ed Langlois Portland Archbishop John Vlazny testified Aug. 6 before a federal bankruptcy court, saying it was ultimately his decision, not the Vatican’s, to file for the first-ever Chapter 11 reorganization of a Catholic diocese. The same day, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted a con artist of inventing sex-abuse charges in an effort to bilk the archdiocese of more than $1 million. During the four-hour bankruptcy hearing, attorneys for those who have claims against the archdiocese sought possible Vatican liability. The archbishop, while allowing that he must comply...