By Associated Press, carried on Komonews
February 17, 2009
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/39764927.html
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| Delbert Acoman, right, talks to reporters Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009, in Seattle. Acoman, of Stebbins, Alaska, is one of 20 Alaska Natives who have joined a lawsuit claiming they were abused by Jesuit priests or those supervised by Jesuits, in remote Alaskan villages from the late 1940s to 2001. |
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Confronted by scores of lawsuits alleging sex abuse by priests, the Jesuits of the Oregon Province filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The petition was filed Tuesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Portland.
In a statement, the Very Rev. Patrick J. Lee, the current provincial, said that with roughly 200 additional claims pending or threatened, the action was the only way fair financial settlements could be offered.
The Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, covers Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho and Montana.
Many of the lawsuits were filed on behalf of Alaska Natives who say they were sexually abused as children.
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