CALIFORNIA
Modesto Bee
The faith of area Catholics is about to be tested anew. The Stockton Diocese, which covers Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Tuolumne and three other counties, is likely to ask for bankruptcy protection early in 2014.
Not unexpected, it results from the clergy sexual-abuse scandal that erupted across the nation a decade ago. The Stockton Diocese had one of the worst offenders in Oliver O’Grady. By his own perverted count, he abused 25 children. Bishop Roger Mahony, now a disgraced cardinal, knew of O’Grady’s crimes. Instead of turning him over to authorities, he sent O’Grady into treatment. Treated then reassigned, O’Grady abused again.
Some 20 lawsuits have resulted with four more in litigation and even more likely. The diocese has paid out millions and expects to be liable for more.
“We have an obligation to victims,” said Bishop Stephen Blaire, who replaced Mahony 14 years ago. “(But) we have run out of funds for settlements. … So we needed to come up with a way in which we can provide some compensation for the victims and enable the church to continue to do her work.”
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