MONTANA
Billings Gazette
Helena Catholic Diocese faces tough decisions as it negotiates bankruptcy
[Part 1: Catholic church will name 50+ priests who abused 100s of children in state]
By DEREK BROUWER Independent Record
Editor’s note: This story is the second of a two-day series on the aftermath of the proposed bankruptcy settlement of sex-abuse cases against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena.
HELENA — Bankruptcy will allow the Diocese of Helena to efficiently compensate sex abuse victims, Bishop George Thomas hopes, so it can begin rebuilding a church already in dire financial straits.
While the bankruptcy case will take several months to sort out, Thomas and diocese attorneys believe they can reach an agreement that will allow the church to emerge financially viable and with parishes intact.
That hasn’t been the case in some other diocese bankruptcies around the country, which have taken years to resolve and with mixed outcomes. Attorneys and church leaders in Helena say cooperation with victims has led to an arrangement that will allow the diocese to move forward.
“Mediation, in my opinion, benefits the entire group of people that are involved,” Thomas said.
However, the church still faces difficult decisions in the coming months as the diocese, creditors and a bankruptcy judge negotiate its financial future.
The settlement reached with victims’ attorneys in January will require the diocese to pay at least $2.5 million of $15 million in damages.
But the money the diocese owes to its parishes is much greater, and is the result of several years of financial problems and past sex-abuse claims, Thomas said.
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