So says the Del Editor Twitter feed. No link to the story yet. First, I am not sure how the finances in the Catholic Church and their respective dioceses work. Is each diocese responsible for their revenue and expenditures without any assistance from any other diocese or Rome? If that is the case, then it is easy to understand why individual dioceses can file for bankruptcy, as tithes and donations can ebb and flow with the economy. Add to that settlement payouts to abused children, and a diocese’s funds can be tapped pretty quickly.
But with all the money the Vatican has, I do not find that fair. Shouldn’t the Church take care of its own?
UPDATE: Here is the link to the story at the News Journal.
The move comes hours before the start of the state’s first trial in an alleged clergy sex-abuse case.
“This is a painful decision, one that I had hoped and prayed I would never have to make,” said Bishop W. Francis Malooly in a statement.
“However, after careful consideration and after consultation with my close advisors and counselors, I believe we have no other choice, and that filing for Chapter 11 offers the best opportunity, given finite resources, to provide the fairest possible treatment of all victims of sexual abuse by priests of our Diocese. Our hope is that Chapter 11 proceedings will enable us to fairly compensate all victims through a single process established by the Bankruptcy Court.” […]
It joins a list of six other dioceses in the United States that have filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy laws in what lawyers said is an attempt to manage an avalanche of clergy sexual-abuse litigation.
Sounds like a preventive move to limit jury awards to the abused. Smart business move, but disgustingly immoral. A good description for the U.S. Catholic Church as an organization. (I am a observant Catholic, and the faith is different from the Church, so shove your charges of Catholic bashing).