Bankruptcy Bid by Catholic Diocese Criticized As Effort to Hide Sex Crimes
Reuters, carried in Orange County Register [San Diego CA]
March 1, 2007
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/state/article_1594513.php
Los angeles -- Victims of sexual abuse by priests said on Wednesday the decision by the San Diego Catholic Diocese to file for bankruptcy was a bid by church leaders to hide the truth about "horrific clergy sex crimes and coverups."
The diocese, which has nearly 1 million members, became the fifth and largest in the United States to file for bankruptcy in the face of dozens of lawsuits from people claiming they were abused by priests who were repeatedly transferred by bishops rather than reported to police.
Speaking to reporters in front of St. Joseph's Cathedral in San Diego, David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said the decision "will only delay the truth coming out."
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| VICTIMS PROTEST: Esther Miller, who says she is a victim of child sexual abuse, holds a quilt with photos of people who say they were abused by priests, Wednesday at St. Joseph's Cathedral in San Diego. Photo by AP |
He said Bishop Robert Brom "claims he's concerned about church assets, but SNAP and others are convinced he wants to avoid embarrassing files and damaging testimony about his role in horrific clergy sex crimes and cover-ups."
Facing more than 150 lawsuits that could cost more than $200 million to settle, the bankruptcy filing late Tuesday came hours before the first court case was due to begin in San Diego on Wednesday.
Brom said in a statement that if the abuse cases went to court, early monetary awards would deplete resources so much there would be nothing left for other victims. Brom pledged to release the names of those priests accused of abuse and make sure no known abuser was still working as a priest.
SNAP said the diocese could have sought alternatives such as loans or donations from church-goers. It urged Brom to attend a scheduled settlement hearing on Friday to demonstrate he wanted the issues resolved.
The Los Angeles archdiocese, the largest in the United States, in December agreed to pay $60 million to settle 45 of the 500 sexual abuse claims against it. Orange County's diocese agreed in 2004 to pay $100 million to settle 87 claims.
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