Catholic Diocese Bankruptcy

By Camilla Rambaldi
Beartooth NBC
February 1, 2014

http://www.beartoothnbc.com/news/helena/1677752232-catholic-diocese-bankruptcy.html

[with video]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena filed for bankruptcy protection to settle 362 claims of children sexually abused by clergy members serving the Diocese.

Two lawsuits were filed in 2011 claiming the clergy members sexually abused the minors from the 1930s to the 1970s.

Helena Diocese victim Thomas A. Lozau Jr. says, “You know when being a kid and trying to tell when it was happening, like I said, you just tell me who you are going to believe."

Diocese spokesman Dan Bartleson said in a statement the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case will help resolve the abuse claims.

There have been three mediation sessions between the two parties.

Bishop George Leo Thomas says, "The mediation process is very confidential because of the Montana state law. There is going to be a lot of people learning about these new developments."

Attorney Molly Howard says with the victim group she works with, 271 of them have come out of the 362. 

 "The Helena Diocese will be paying $15 million to all identified victims. The actual list of credibly accused priests and others hasn't been released yet and there is no exact confirmation at this time of when it will.