Diocesan Finances and Bankruptcy Protection The Davenport diocese is considering bankruptcy as an approach to its sexual abuse crisis, and the situation in other dioceses that have filed for bankruptcy is an important consideration for victims of abuse in Davenport, Catholics of the diocese, and indeed every citizen. Below we offer an archive of materials relating to bankruptcy and church finances, including legal documents, statements by bishops and victims, news, and analysis.

For opposing views on bankruptcy as an option, and a crucial document in the bankruptcy process, we suggest you begin by reading the three items marked with a red **.

Video Reports on the Bankruptcy Issue

* Tucson Bankruptcy Dilemma, by Judy Valente (8/20/04) [for 10-minute RealPlayer feature, click in the video box at this link] The transcript of this report is available below.
* L.A. Archdiocese Financial Crisis, Judy Valente (7/11/03) [for 7-minute RealPlayer feature with footage on diocesan valuation methods, click in the video box at this link]

Helpful Links

* Filing Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, by BankruptcyLawFirms.com, with brief articles on bankruptcy topics.
* Financial Administration, from Archbishop: Inside the Power Structure of the American Catholic Church, by Thomas J. Reese, S.J.
* Chapter 11 Financial Reorganization, official bankruptcy Web pages from the Diocese of Tucson.


Church Finances and Bankruptcy in General

* Sexual Abuse Hits Church Finances, by Peter Gould (4/15/02)
* The Economic Strain on the Church, by William C. Symonds (4/15/02)
* The U.S. Catholic Church: How It Works, in Business Week (4/15/02)
* Q&A: A Talk with the Vatican's Moneyman, by Gail Edmondson, interviewing Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka (4/15/02)
* A New Chapter, by Fred Naffziger (10/21/02)
* What Happens When a Church Goes Bankrupt, by Brad Knickerbocker (7/9/04)
* L.A. Archdiocese Financial Crisis, Judy Valente (7/11/03)
** Did the Portland Catholic Archdiocese Declare Bankruptcy to Avoid or Delay Clergy Abuse Suits? by Marci Hamilton (7/13/04)
* Churches Weigh Going Bankrupt to Escape Suits, by Marie Beaudette (7/28/04)
* Catholic Diocese of Tucson Files Plan of Bankruptcy Reorganization, by Jack Siegel (9/22/04) [prompted by the Tuscon bankruptcy filing but relevant to all such filings]

Diocesan Assets and Real Estate

* Roman Catholic Bishop, by Jennifer Levitz (8/18/02) on the finances and real estate holdings of the Providence RI diocese
* Diocese Details Sale of Property, by Jennifer Levitz (4/15/02) on real estate owned by the diocese of Providence RI
* "Land Rich" {1} {2}, by Jack Sullivan and Eric Convey, with a table of land owned by the Boston archdiocese (also sorted in descending order of assessment value), a Boston Herald editorial, and a reply to this analysis printed in the Pilot, the archdiocesan weekly newspaper. (8/27/02)
* AG Gains Oversight of Assets at Parishes, by Michael Paulson (8/18/04)
* Bid to Freeze Diocese Assets Is Rejected, by Onell R. Soto (10/6/04)

Archdiocese of Portland

* Archbishop Utters Bankruptcy, by Shelby Oppel and Ashbel S. Green (6/18/03)
* Letter Announcing Bankruptcy, by Archbishop John G. Vlazny (7/6/04) and PDF copy
* Archdiocese of Portland Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, by Ed Langlois (7/7/04)
* Archdiocese of Portland, Ore., Declares Bankruptcy, by Alan Cooperman (7/7/04)
* Archdiocese in Portland Declares Bankruptcy, by Janet I. Tu and Stuart Eskenazi (7/7/04)
* Diocese in Ore. Files for Chap. 11, by Michael Paulson (7/7/04)
* Religious Aspects Complicate Bankruptcy, by Ashbel S. Green (7/8/04)
** Perspectives: Archdiocese of Portland Bankruptcy, interview of Mark Chopko by Bob Abernethy (7/9/04)
* Archdiocese on Uncharted Path, by Jeff Kosseff (7/12/04)
* Statement Alleges Archdiocese Ignored 5 Warnings, by the Associated Press (7/13/04)
** Did the Portland Catholic Archdiocese Declare Bankruptcy to Avoid or Delay Clergy Abuse Suits? by Marci Hamilton (7/13/04)
* Archdiocese of Portland's Bankruptcy Filing Turns Eyes to Vatican, by Janet I. Tu (7/13/04)
* U.S. Archdiocese in Bankruptcy Court Asks Permission to Pay Workers, by Catholic News Agency (7/16/04)
* Bankruptcy Seen As Dioceses' Shelter, by Jeff Kosseff and Jim Barrett (8/2/04)
** Legal Notice to Survivors of Deadline to File Claims, by the Archdiocese of Portland, and the legal document that describes the deadline process (8/18/04)

Diocese of Tucson

* Editorial: Bankruptcy May Be Best for Diocese, by Tucson Citizen (7/8/02)
* 7 Young Men Look to "Our Day in Court," by Stephanie Innes (7/11/04)
* Bishop Kicanas Denies ‘Conspiracy’ in Announcing Possible Bankruptcy, by Catholic News Agency (7/15/04)
* Pope Defrocks Tucson Priests, by Scott Simonson and Tom Beal (8/6/04)
* Diocese Nears Threshold on Bankruptcy, by Stephanie Innes (8/16/04)
* Tucson Bankruptcy Dilemma, by Judy Valente (8/20/04)
* Voluntary Petition, filed by the Diocese of Tucson (9/20/04)
* Plan of Reorganization, filed by the Diocese of Tucson (9/20/04)
* Disclosure Statement, filed by the Diocese of Tucson (9/20/04)
* Letter to Abuse Victims, by Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas (9/20/04)
* Letter to Church Members, by Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas (9/20/04)
* Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson Files for Bankruptcy over Abuse Cases, by Arthur H. Rotstein (9/20/04)
* Statements Regarding Tucson Diocese Bankruptcy, by David Clohessy and Jim Parker (9/20/04)
* Tucson Diocese Files Bankruptcy Reorganization, by Sheryl Kornman (9/20/04)
* Bankruptcy Timeline, by the Tucson Citizen (9/20/04)
* Timeline of Diocese's Troubles, by the Arizona Daily Star (9/21/04)
* Diocese's Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Is "Prepackaged," by David Wichner (9/21/04)
* Diocese Seeks Bankruptcy Protection, by Michael Clancy (9/21/04)
* Facing Sex Abuse Suits, Tucson Diocese Seeks Bankruptcy Protection, by the Catholic News Service (9/21/04)
* Catholic Diocese of Tucson Files Plan of Bankruptcy Reorganization, by Jack Siegel (9/22/04)
* Diocese of Tucson Files for Bankruptcy, by Business News (9/24/04)
* Tucson Diocese Victims Have 6 Months to File Claim, by Michael Clancy (10/08/04)

Diocese of Davenport

* Remarks on the Possibility of Bankruptcy, by Bishop William E. Franklin (9/30/04)
* Davenport Diocese Contemplates Bankruptcy over Sex Abuse Suits, by Todd Ruger (10/1/04)
* Davenport Diocese Talks Money, by Shirley Ragsdale (10/1/04)
* Bishop Says Abuse Scandal Could Force Diocese into Bankruptcy, by Todd Dvorak (10/1/04)
* Priests React to Bankruptcy Warning, by Mike McWilliams (10/2/04)
* Diocese Hopes to Settle Claims, by Shirley Ragsdale (10/2/04)
* Diocese: Schools Safe If Chap. 11, by Craig T. Neises (October 20, 2004)
* Iowa Diocese Says It's Near Bankruptcy, by Ryan J. Foley (10/21/04)

Other Dioceses

* Perspectives: Bankruptcy Implications for Boston Archdiocese, by Bob Abernethy interviewing Michael Paulson (12/6/02)
* L.A. Archdiocese Financial Crisis, Judy Valente (7/11/03)
* AG Gains Oversight of Assets at Parishes, by Michael Paulson (8/18/04)
* Attorney: Covington Diocese Looking at Bankruptcy, by the Associated Press (10/23/04)